n'; and I t'inks dey'll take de
same route to git back agin."

Somehow or other, the Lieutenant had the same impression as the negro.
It was so strong upon him that he resolved to change their position at
once. Accordingly, he proceeded to where his horse was tied, and
unfastening, led him into the wood. Making a _detour_, he came back
nearly upon the opposite side of the clearing, where, if possible, the
wood was still thicker. Here they carefully screened themselves from
observation and watched the Shawnees.

Hither and thither they passed, searching among the ruins for plunder,
occasionally turning up some trifle upon which they pounced with the
avidity of children, and examining the half-burnt remnants of chairs,
tables and stands, etc. Here and there they pulled the black, twisted
nails forth, that looked like worms burnt to a cinder, and carefully
preserved them for future use. Every metallic substance was seized as
a prize, and some of the wooden portions of instruments were also
appropriated. Thin twists of smoke still ascended from different spots
in the clearing, and the ashes when stirred showed the red live coals
beneath them.

"Yah! yah! dat feller's got sumkin' nice," said Cato, laughing heartily
and silently at one of the Indians, who had pulled forth a long board
with evident delight. Turning it over, he balanced it on his shoulder
and was walking rapidly away, when suddenly he sprung several feet in
the air with a yell of agony, and jumped from beneath it, rubbing his
shoulder very violently as if suffering acute pain.

"Yah! yah! knowed 'twould do dat. Lower part all afire, and reckoned
it burnt him a little."

The Indian continued dancing around for several moments, not ashamed to
show to his companions how much he suffered. He by no means was the
only one who was caught in this manner. Very often, a savage would
spring from the ground, with a sharp exclamation, as some coal pierced
through his moccasin, and now and then another could be seen, slapping
his fingers against his person, after he had hastily dropped some
object. One eager Shawnee attempted to draw a red-hot nail from a slab
with his thumb and finger, and roasted the ends of both by the
operation, while a second seated himself upon a board which set fire to
the fringe of his hunting-shirt. He did not become aware of it until a
few minutes later, when, in walking around, the fire reached his hide.
Placing his hand behind h