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lear of the boat。
The chief did not stop again； and as the fire had burned higher； his features were disclosed more plainly in his restless walk back and forth before the flames。 Henry took a final look at the lofty features； contracted now into a frown； then began to wade among the bushes； pushing his way softly。 This was the most delicate and difficult task of all。 The water must not be allowed to plash around him nor the bushes to rustle as he passed。 Forward he went a yard； then two； five； ten； and his feet were about to rest upon solid earth； when a stick submerged in the mud broke under his moccasin with a snap singularly loud in the silence of the night。
Henry sprang at once upon dry land； whence he cast back a single swift glance。 He saw the chief standing rigid and gazing in the direction from which the sound had come。 Other warriors were just behind him； following his look； aware that there was an unexpected presence in the forest； and resolved to know its nature。
Henry ran northward。 So confident was he in his powers and the protecting darkness of the night that he sent back a sharp cry； piercing and defiant； a cry of a quality that could come only from a white throat。 The warriors would know it； and he intended for them to know it。 Then； holding his rifle almost parallel with his body； he darted swiftly away through the black spaces of the forest。 But an answering cry came to his； the Indian yell taking up his challenge； and saying that the night would not check pursuit。
Henry maintained his swift pace for a long time； choosing the more open places that he might make no noise among the bushes and leaves。 Now and then water dripped in his face； and his moccasins were wet from the long grass； but his body was warm and dry； and he felt little weariness。 The clouds were now all gone； and the stars sprang out； dancing in a sky of dusky blue。 Trained eyes could see far in the forest despite the night； and Henry felt that he must be wary。 He recalled the skill and tenacity of Timmendiquas。 A fugitive could scarcely be trailed in the darkness； but the great chief would spread out his forces like a fan and follow。
He had been running perhaps three hours when he concluded to stop in a thicket； where he lay down on the damp grass； and rested with his head under his arm。
His breath had been coming a little faster； but his heart now resumed its regular beat。 Then he heard a soft sound； that of footsteps。 He thought at first that some wild animal was prowling near； but second thought convinced him that human beings had come。 Gazing through the thicket； he saw an Indian warrior walking among the trees； looking searchingly about him as if he were a scout。 Another； coming from a different direction； approached him； and Henry felt sure that they were of the party of Timmendiquas。 They had followed him in some manner； perhaps by chance； and it behooved Mm now to lie close。
A third warrior joined them and they began to examine the ground。 Henry realized that it was much lighter。 Keen eyes under such a starry sky could see much； and they might strike his trail。 The fear quickly became fact。 One of the warriors； uttering a short cry； raised his head and beckoned to the others。 He had seen broken twigs or trampled grass； and Henry； knowing that it was no time to hesitate； sprang from his covert。 Two of the warriors caught a glimpse of his dusky figure and fired； the bullets cutting the leaves close to his head； but Henry ran so fast that he was lost to view in an instant。
The boy was conscious that his position contained many elements of danger。 He was about to have another example of the tenacity and resource of the great young chief of the Wyandots； and he felt a certain anger。 He； did not wish to be disturbed in his plans； he wished to rejoin his comrades and move farther east toward the chosen lands of the Six Nations； instead； he must spend precious moments running for his life。
Henry did not now flee toward the camp of his friends。 He was too wise； too unselfish； to bring a horde down upon them； and he curved away in a course that would take him to the south of them。 He glanced up and saw that the heavens were lightening yet more。 A thin gray color like a mist was appearing in the east。 It was the herald of day； and now the Indians would be able to find his trail。 But Henry was not afraid。 His anger over the loss of time quickly passed； and he ran swiftly on； the fall of his moccasins making scarcely any noise as be passed。
It was no unusual incident。 Thousands of such pursuits occurred in the border life of our country； and were lost to the chronicler。 For generations they were almost a part of the daily life of the frontier； but the present； while not out of the common in itself； had； uncommon phases。 It was the most splendid type of white life in all the wilderness that fled； and the finest type of red life that followed。
It was impossible for Henry to feel anger or hate toward Timmendiquas。 In his place he would have done what he was doing。 It was hard to give up these great woods and beautiful lakes and rivers； and the wild life that wild men lived and loved。 There was so much chivalry in the boy's nature that he could think of all these things while he fled to escape the tomahawk or the stake。
Up came the sun。 The gray light turned to silver； and then to red and blazing gold。 A long； swelling note； the triumphant cry of the pursuing warriors； rose behind him。 Henry turned his head for one look。 He saw a group of them poised for a moment on the crest of a low hill and outlined against the broad flame in the east。 He saw their scalp locks； the rifles in their hands； and their bare chests shining bronze in the glow。 Once more he sent back his defiant cry； now in answer to theirs； and then； calling upon his reserves of strength and endurance； fled with a speed that none of the warriors had ever seen surpassed。
Henry's flight lasted all that day； and he used every device to evade the pursuit； swinging by vines； walking along fallen logs； and wading in brooks。 He did not see the warriors again； but instinct warned him that they were yet following。 At long intervals he would rest for a quarter of an hour or so among the bushes； and at noon he ate a little of the venison that he always carried。 Three hours later he came to the river again； and swimming it he turned on his course； but kept to the southern side。 When the twilight was falling once more he sat still in dense covert for a long time。 He neither saw nor heard a sign of human presence； and he was sure now that the pursuit had failed。 Without an effort he dismissed it from his mind； ate a little more of the venison； and made his bed for the night。
The whole day had been bright； with a light wind blowing； and the forest was dry once more。 As far as Henry could see it circled away on every side； a solid dark green； the leaves of oak and beech； maple and elm making a soft； sighing sound as they waved gently in the wind。 It told Henry of nothing but peace。 He had eluded the pursuit； hence it was no more。 This was a great； friendly forest； ready to shelter him； to soothe him； and to receive him into its arms for peaceful sleep。
He found a place among thick trees where the leaves of last year lay deep upon the ground。 He drew up enough of them for a soft bed； because now and for the moment he was a forest sybarite。 He was wise enough to take his ease when he found it； knowing that it would pay his body to relax。
He lay down upon the leaves； placed the rifle by his side； and spread the blanket over himself and the weapon。 The twilight was gone； and the night； dark and without stars； as he wished to see it； rolled up； fold after fold； covering and hiding everything。 He looked a little while at a breadth of inky sky showing through the leaves； and then； free from trouble or fear； he fell asleep。
CHAPTER II
THE MYSTERIOUS HAND
Henry slept until a rosy light； filtering through the leaves； fell upon his face。 Then he sprang up； folded the blanket once more upon his back； and looked about him。 Nothing had come in the night to disturb him； no enemy was near； and the morn