of the stream, and they all started immediately. As was agreed,
they kept perfect silence, and followed the newly-discovered trail for
about a mile, when, on their arrival at a clear spot in the woods, where
the grass was very short and dry, they were again at fault. They went
over to the other side of the heath, to see if they could again fall in
with it, but after half-an-hour's search, could not discover it, when
they were summoned by a low whistle from the Strawberry, who had
returned to the spot where the trail had been lost.
"They have turned back again," said the Strawberry, pointing to the
former footmarks; "see the track of the mocassins is both ways."
"That's true," said Malachi, after a close examination; "now then,
Strawberry, to find out where they have left the old trail again. I
told you, sir," continued Malachi to Alfred, "that the Strawberry would
be useful; she has the eye of a falcon."
It was not till another half-hour had elapsed that the spot where they
had left the trail, which, to deceive those who might pursue them, the
Indians had returned upon, was discovered, and then they started again,
and proceeded with caution, led by the Strawberry, until she stopped and
spoke to Malachi in the Indian tongue, pointing at a small twig broken
upon one of the bushes.
"That's true, let us see if it happens again."
In a few moments the Strawberry pointed out another.
"Then all's right," said Malachi; "I said that she could help us again
if she chose, and so she has. The Injun woman who wrote the letter,"
continued Malachi, turning to Captain Sinclair and Alfred, "is our
friend still. See, sir, she has, wherever she has dared to do it
without being seen by the Injuns, broken down a small twig as a guide to
us. Now, if she has continued to do this we shall not have much
trouble."
They continued their course through the woods until the sun went down,
and they could see no longer, having made a journey of about nine miles
from the settlement. They then laid down for the night under a large
tree; the weather was very warm, and they did not light a fire as they
had some cooked provisions.
The next morning, as soon as it was daylight, they made a hasty meal,
and resumed their task. The trail was now pretty clear, and was
occasionally verified by the breaking of a twig, as before. This day
they made sixteen miles' journey, and at the close of it they arrived at
the borders of a lake about te
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