In the
evening Martin and Alfred returned, carrying a fine buck between them.
The fire was lighted, and very soon all were busy cooking and eating.
The Indian woman also begged for something to eat, and her recovery was
now no longer considered doubtful.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

Percival transformed.

It was a great annoyance to Captain Sinclair to have to wait in this
manner, but there was no help for it. He was satisfied that it was the
most prudent course, and therefore raised no objection. Alfred too was
uneasy at the delay, as he was aware how anxious his father and mother
would be during the whole time of their absence. They were glad,
however, to find that the Indian woman recovered rapidly, and on the
fifth day of their taking up their abode in the forest, she said that
she was able to travel if they walked slow. It was therefore agreed
that on the sixth day they should start again, and they did so, having
saved their salt provisions, that they might not be compelled to stop,
or use their rifles to procure food. The evening before, they roasted
as much venison as they thought they could consume while it was good,
and at daylight again proceeded, not to follow the trail, but guided by
the Indian woman, in a direct course for the lodges of the Indian band
under the Angry Snake.

As they had now only to proceed as fast as they could without tiring the
poor Indian woman, whose head was bound up, and who was still weak from
loss of blood, they made a tolerable day's journey, and halted as
before. Thus they continued their route till the sixth day, when as
they drew up for the night, the Indian stated that they were only three
or four miles from the Indians' lodges, which they sought. Thereupon a
council was held as to how they should proceed, and at last it was
agreed upon that they should be guided by the Indian woman to a spot
where they might be concealed, as near as possible to the lodges, and
that when the party had arrived there, that the woman and Malachi should
go and reconnoitre, to ascertain whether the chief and his band with
Mary Percival had returned or not. The night was passed very
impatiently, and without sleep by most of them, so anxious were they for
the morrow. Long before break of day they again started, advancing with
great caution, and were led by the Indian till they were within one
hundred and fifty yards of the lodges, in a thick cluster of young
spruce, which completely secu