Chapter VII.

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　We call them savage--oh, be just! Their outraged feelings scan; A voice comes forth, 'tis from the dust-- The savage was a man! SPRAGUE.As soon as le Bourdon reached the commencement of that which mightbe called his path across the marsh, he stopped and looked backward.He was now sufficiently removed from the low acclivity to seeobjects on its summit, and had no difficulty in discerning all thatthe waning fire illuminated. There stood the Chippewa erect againstthe tree as if still bound with thongs, while the sentinel wasslowly approaching him. The dogs were on their feet, and gave two orthree sharp barks, which had the effect to cause five or six of thesavages to lift their heads in their lairs. One arose even and threwan armful of dried branches on the fire, producing a bright blaze,that brought everything around the hut, and which the light couldtouch, into full view.

　　The bee-hunter was astonished at the immovable calmness with whichPigeonswing still stood to his tree, awaiting the approach of thesentinel. In a few moments the latter was at his side. At first thePottawattamie did not perceive that the prisoner was unbound. Hethrew him into shadow by his own person, and it required a closelook to note the circumstance. Boden was too far from the spot tosee all the minor movements of the parties, but there was soon astruggle that could not be mistaken. As the Pottawattamie wasexamining the prisoner, an exclamation that escaped him betrayed thesudden consciousness that the Chippewa was unbound. The sound was nosooner uttered than Pigeonswing made a grasp at the sentinel'sknife, which however he did not obtain, when the two closed andfell, rolling down the declivity into the darkness. When thePottawattamie seized the Chippewa, he uttered a yell, whichinstantly brought every man of his party to his feet. As the savagesnow united in the whoops, and the dogs began to bark wildly, aninfernal clamor was made.

　　At first, le Bourdon did not know how to act. He greatly feared thedogs, and could not but think of Margery, and the probableconsequences, should those sagacious animals follow him across themarsh. But he did not like the idea of abandoning Pigeonswing, whena single blow of his arm, or a kick of his foot, might be the causeof his escape. While deliberating in painful uncertainty, the soundsof the struggle ceased, and he saw the sentinel rising again intothe light, limping like one who had suffered by a fall. Presently heheard a footstep near him, and, calling in a low voice, he wasimmediately joined by Pigeonswing. Before the bee-hunter was awareof his intention, the Chippewa seized his rifle, and levelling atthe sentinel, who still stood on the brow of the hill, drawn in allhis savage outlines distinctly in the light of the flames, he fired.The cry, the leap into the air, and the fall, announced the unerringcharacter of the aim. In coming to the earth, the wounded man fellover the brow of the sharp acclivity, and was heard rolling towardits base.

　　Le Bourdon felt the importance of now improving the preciousmoments, and was in the act of urging his companion to follow, whenthe latter passed an arm around his body, whipped his knife from thegirdle and sheath, and dropping the rifle into his friend's arms,bounded away in the darkness, taking the direction of his fallenenemy. There was no mistaking all this; Chippewa, led by his ownpeculiar sense of honor, risking everything to obtain the usualtrophy of victory. By this time, a dozen of the savages stood on thebrow of the hill, seemingly at a loss to understand what had becomeof the combatants. Perceiving this, the bee-hunter profited by thedelay and reloaded his rifle. As everything passed almost as swiftlyas the electric spark is known to travel, it was but a moment afterthe Pottawattamie fell ere his conqueror was through with his bloodytask. Just as le Bourdon threw his rifle up into the hollow of hisarm, he was rejoined by his red friend, who bore the reeking scalpof the sentinel at his belt; though fortunately the bee-hunter didnot see it on account of the obscurity, else might he not have beenso willing to continue to act with so ruthless an ally.

　　Further stay was out of the question; for the Indians were nowcollected in a body on the brow of the hill, where the chief wasrapidly issuing his orders. In a minute the band dispersed, everyman bounding into the darkness, as if aware of the danger ofremaining within the influence of the bright light thrown from thefire. Then came such a clamor from the dogs, as left no doubt in themind of the bee-hunter that they had scented and found the remainsof the fallen man. A fierce yell came from the same spot, the proofthat some of the savages had already discovered the body; and leBourdon told his companion to follow, taking his way across themarsh as fast as he could overcome the difficulties of the path.

　　It has already been intimated that it was not easy, if indeed itwere possible, to cross that piece of low wet land in a direct line.There was tolerably firm ground on it, but it lay in an irregularform, its presence being generally to be noted by the growth oftrees. Le Bourdon had been very careful in taking his landmarks,foreseeing the probability of a hasty retreat, and he had nodifficulty for some time in keeping in the right direction. But thedogs soon left the dead body, and came bounding across the marsh,disregarding its difficulties; though their plunges and yells soonmade it apparent that even they did not escape altogether with dryfeet. As for the savages, they poured down the declivity in astream, taking the dogs as their guides; and safe ones they mightwell be accounted, so far as the scent was concerned, though theydid not happen to be particularly well acquainted with all thedifficulties of the path.

　　At length le Bourdon paused, causing his companion to stop also. Inthe hurry and confusion of the flight, the former had lost hislandmarks, finding himself amidst a copse of small trees, or largebushes, but not in the particular copse he sought. Every effort toget out of this thicket, except by the way he had entered it, provedabortive, and the dogs were barking at no great distance in hisrear. It is true that these animals no longer approached: for theywere floundering in the mud and water; but their throats answeredevery purpose to lead the pursuers on, and the low calls that passedfrom mouth to mouth, let the pursued understand that thePottawattamies were at their heels, if not absolutely on theirtrail.

　　The crisis demanded both discretion and decision; qualities in whichthe bee-hunter, with his forest training, was not likely to bedeficient. He looked out for the path by which he had reached theunfortunate thicket, and having found it, commenced a retreat by theway he had come. Nerve was needed to move almost in a line towardthe dogs and their masters; but the nerve was forthcoming, and thetwo advanced like veterans expecting the fire of some concealed butwell-armed battery. Presently, le Bourdon stopped, and examined theground on which he stood.

　　"Here we must turn, Chippewa," he said, in a guarded voice. "This isthe spot where I must have missed my way."

　　"Good place to turn 'bout," answered the Indian--"dog too near."

　　"We must shoot the dogs if they press us too hard," returned thebee-hunter, leading off rapidly, now secure in the right direction."They seem to be in trouble, just at this time; but animals likethem will soon find their way across this marsh."

　　"Bess shoot Pottawattamie," coolly returned Pigeonswing."Pottawattamie got capital scalp--dog's ears no good for nutting anymore."

　　"Yonder, I believe, is the tree I am in search of!" exclaimed leBourdon. "If we can reach that tree, I think all will go well withus."

　　The tree was reached, and the bee-hunter proceeded to make sure ofhis course from that point. Removing from his pouch a small piece ofmoistened powder that he had prepared ere he liberated the Chippewa,he stuck it on a low branch of the tree he was under, and on theside next the spot where he had stationed Margery. When this wasdone, he made his companion stand aside, and lighting some spunkwith his flint and steel, he fired his powder. Of course, thislittle preparation burned like the fireworks of a boy, makingsufficient light, however, to be seen in a dark night for a mile ormore. No sooner was the wetted powder hissing and throwing off itssparks, than the bee-hunter gazed intently into the now seeminglytangible obscurity of the marsh. A bright light appeared andvanished. It was enough; the bee-hunter threw down his own signaland extinguished it with his foot; and, as he wished, the lantern ofMargery appeared no more. Assured now of the accuracy of hisposition, as well as of the course he was to pursue, le Bourdon badehis companion follow, and pressed anew across the marsh. A tree wassoon visible, and toward that particular object the fugitivessteadily pressed, until it was reached. At the next instant Margerywas joined; and the bee-hunter could not refrain from kissing her,in the excess of his pleasure.

　　"There is a dreadful howling of dogs," said Margery, feeling nooffence at the liberty taken, in a moment like that, "and it seemsto me that a whole tribe is following at their heels. For Heaven'ssake, Bourdon, let us hasten to the canoes; brother and sister mustthink us lost!"

　　The circumstances pressed, and the bee-hunter took Margery's arm,passing it through one of his own, with a decided and protectingmanner, that caused the girl's heart to beat with emotions not inthe least connected with fear, leaving an impression of pleasureeven at that perilous moment. As the distance was not great, thethree were soon on the beach and near to the canoes. Here they metDorothy, alone, and pacing to and fro like a person distressed. Shehad doubtless heard the clamor, and was aware that the savages wereout looking for their party. As Margery met her sister, she saw thatsomething more than common had gone wrong, and in the eagerness ofher apprehensions she did not scruple about putting her questions.

　　"What has become of brother? Where is Gershom?" demanded thesensitive girl, at once.

　　The answer was given in a low voice, and in that sort of manner withwhich woman struggles to the last to conceal the delinquencies ofhim she loves.

　　"Gershom is not himself, just now," half whispered the wife--"he hasfallen into one of his old ways, ag'in."

　　"Old ways?" slowly repeated the sister, dropping her own voice totones similar to those in which the unpleasant news had just beencommunicated. "How is that possible, now that all the whiskey isemptied?"

　　"It seems that Bourdon had a jug of brandy among his stores, andGershom found it out. I blame no one; for Bourdon, who never abusesthe gifts of Providence, had a right to his comforts at least; butit is a pity that there was anything of the sort in the canoes!"

　　The bee-hunter was greatly concerned at this unwelcome intelligence,feeling all its importance far more vividly than either of hiscompanions. They regretted as women; but he foresaw the danger, as aman accustomed to exertion in trying scenes. If Whiskey Centre hadreally fallen into his old ways, so as to render himself anincumbrance, instead of being an assistant at such a moment, thefact was to be deplored, but it could only be remedied by time.Luckily they had the Indian with them, and he could manage one ofthe canoes, while he himself took charge of the other. As no timewas to be lost--the barking of the dogs and the cries of the savagestoo plainly letting it be known that the enemy was getting throughthe marsh by some means or other--he hurried the party down to thecanoes, entering that of Whiskey Centre at once.

　　Le Bourdon found Gershom asleep, but with the heavy slumbers of thedrunkard. Dolly had removed the jug and concealed it, as soon as thestate of her husband enabled her to do so without incurring hisviolence. Else might the unfortunate man have destroyed himself, byindulging in a liquor so much more palatable than that he wasaccustomed to use, after so long and compelled an abstinence. Thejug was now produced, however, and le Bourdon emptied it in theriver, to the great joy of the two females, though not without asharp remonstrance from the Chippewa. The bee-hunter was steady, andthe last drop of the liquor of Gascony was soon mingling with thewaters of the Kalamazoo. This done, the bee-hunter desired the womento embark, and called to the Chippewa to do the same. By quittingthe spot in the canoes, it was evident the pursuers would be balked,temporarily at least, since they must recross the marsh in order toget into their own boats, without which further pursuit would befruitless.

　　It might have been by means of a secret sympathy, or it was possiblythe result of accident, but certain it is, that the Chippewa wasplaced in that of le Bourdon. As for Whiskey Centre, he lay like alog in the bottom of his own light bark, cared for only by hisaffectionate wife, who had made a pillow for his head; but,fortunately, if no assistance just then, not any material hindranceto the movements of his friends. By the time le Bourdon and theChippewa had got their stations, and the canoes were free of thebottom, it was evident by the sounds, that not only the dogs, butdivers of their masters, had floundered through the swamp, and werealready on the firm ground east of it. As the dogs ran by scent,little doubt remained of their soon leading the savages to the placeof embarkation. Aware of this, the bee-hunter directed the Chippewato follow, and urged his own canoe away from the shore, followingone of three of the natural channels that united just at that point.

　　The clamor now sensibly increased, and the approach of the pursuerswas much faster than it had previously been, in consequence of thereno longer being wet land beneath their feet. At the distance offifty yards from the shore, however, the channel, or open avenueamong the rice-plants that the canoes had taken, made a short turnto the northward; for all the events we have just been recordingoccurred on the northern, or leeward side of the river. Once aroundthis bend in the channel, the canoes would have been effectuallyconcealed from those on the beach, had it even been broad daylight,and, of course, were so much more hidden from view under theobscurity of a very dark night. Perceiving this, and fearful thatthe dip of the paddles might be heard, le Bourdon ceased to urge hiscanoe through the water, telling the Chippewa to imitate hisexample, and let the boats drift. In consequence of this precautionthe fugitives were still quite near the shore when, first, the dogs,then a party of their masters, came rushing down to the very spotwhence the canoes had departed scarcely two minutes before. As noprecautions were taken to conceal the advance of the pursuers, thepursued, or the individuals among them who alone understood thecommon language of the great Ojebway nation well, had an opportunityof hearing and understanding all that was said. Le Bourdon hadbrought the two canoes together; and the Chippewa, at his request,now translated such parts of the discourse of their enemies as hedeemed worthy of communicating to the females.

　　"Say, now, nobody dere!" commenced the Indian, coolly. "T'ink he nogreat way off--mean to look for him--t'ink dog uneasy--won'er whydog so uneasy."

　　"Them dogs are very likely to scent us here in the canoes, we are sonear them," whispered le Bourdon.

　　"S'pose he do, can't catch us," coolly answered the Chippewa--"beside, shoot him, don't take care--bad for dog to chase warriortoo much."

　　"There is one speaking now, who seems to have authority."

　　"Yes--he chief--know he voice--hear him too often--he mean to putPigeonswing to torture. Well, let him catch Pigeonswing fust--swiftbird do that, eh?"

　　"But what says he?--it may be of importance to learn what the chiefsays, just now."

　　"Who care what he say--can't do nuttin'--if get good chance, takehis scalp, too."

　　"Aye, that I dare say--but he is speaking earnestly and in a lowvoice; listen, and let us know what he says. I do not wellunderstand at this distance."

　　The Chippewa complied, and maintained an attentive silence until thechief ceased to speak. Then he rendered what had been said into suchEnglish as he could command, accompanying the translation by theexplanations that naturally suggested themselves to one likehimself.

　　"Chief talk to young men," said the Chippewa--"all chief talk toyoung men--tell him dat Pigeonswing must get off in canoe--don't seecanoe, nudder--but, muss be canoe, else he swim. T'ink more than oneInjin here--don't know, dough--maybe, maybe not--can't tell, tillsee trail, morrow morning--"

　　"Well, well; but what does he tell his young men to do?" demandedthe bee-hunter, impatiently.

　　"Don't be squaw, Bourdon--tell all by'em bye. Tell young men s'posehe get canoe, den he may get our canoe, and carry 'em off--s'pose heswim; dat Chippewa devil swim down stream and get our canoe datfashion--bess go back, some of you, and see arter our canoe--datwhat he tell young men most."

　　"That is a lucky thought!" exclaimed le Bourdon--"let us paddledown, at once, and seize all their canoes before they can get there.The distance by water, owing to this bend in the river, is not halfas great as that by land, and the marsh will double the distance tothem."

　　"Dat good counsel," said Pigeonswing--"you go--I follow."

　　This was no sooner said, than the canoes again got in motion. Thedarkness might now have been a sufficient protection had there beenno rice, but the plant would have concealed the movement, even atnoon-day. The fire in the hut served as a beacon, and enabled leBourdon to find the canoes. When he reached the landing, he couldstill hear the dogs barking on the marsh, and the voices of thosewith them, calling in loud tones to two of the savages who hadremained at the chiente, as a sort of camp-guard.

　　"What do them chaps say?" asked le Bourdon of the Chippewa. "Theyyell as if striving to make the two men at the door of the hut hearthem. Can you make out what they are bawling so loud?"

　　"Tell two warrior to come down and take care of canoe--dat all--let'em come--find two here to take care of dem--got good scalp, themtwo rascal Pottawattamie!"

　　"No--no--Pigeonswing--we must have no more of that work to-night,but must set about towing these four canoes off the shore as fast aswe can. Have you got hitches on your two?"

　　"Fast 'nough--so fast, he follow," answered the Indian, who,notwithstanding his preparations to help to remove the canoes, wasmanifestly reluctant to depart without striking another blow at hisenemies. "Now good time for dem rascal to lose scalp!"

　　"Them rascals, as you call them, begin to understand their friendsin the marsh, and are looking to the priming of their rifles. Wemust be moving, or they may see us, and give us a shot. Shove off,Chippewa, and paddle at once for the middle of the bay."

　　As le Bourdon was much in earnest, Pigeonswing was fain to comply.Had the last possessed a rifle of his own, or even a knife, it ishighly probable he would have leaped ashore, and found the means ofstealing on some of his enemies unawares, and thus secured anothertrophy. But the bee-hunter was determined, and the Chippewa, howeverreluctant, was compelled to obey; for not only had le Bourdon kepthis rifle at his side, but he had used the precaution of securinghis knife and tomahawk, both of which he carried habitually, thesame as a red man.

　　The canoes had now a somewhat difficult task. The wind still blewfresh, and it was necessary for one of these light craft, prettywell loaded with its proper freight, and paddled by only a singleperson, to tow two other craft of equal size dead to the windward.The weight in the towing craft, and the lightness of those that weretowed, rendered this task, however, easier than it might otherwisehave proved. In the course of a couple of minutes all the canoeswere far enough from the shore to be out of sight of the twoIndians, who, by that time, had got down to the beach to look aftertheir own craft. The yell these savages raised on finding themselvestoo late, not only announced their disappointment, but communicatedthe extent of the disaster to their friends, who were stillfloundering through the marsh.

　　The great advantage that the party of the bee-hunter had nowobtained must be very apparent to all. In possession of all thecanoes, their enemies were, or would be for some time at least,confined to the northern side of the river, which was so wide nearits mouth as to present an effectual barrier between them and thosewho occupied the opposite bank. The canoes, also, enabled the weakerparty to change their position at will, carrying with them as manyeffects as were on board, and which included the whole of theproperty of le Bourdon; while their loss deprived their enemies ofall extra means of motion, and would be very likely to induce themto proceed on their expedition by land. The objects of thatexpedition could only be conjectured by the bee-hunter, until he hadquestioned the Chippewa; a thing he did not fail to do, so soon ashe believed the party quite safe under the south shore. Here thefugitives landed, proceeding up a natural channel in the wild ricein order to do so, and selecting a bit of dry beach for theirpurpose. Margery set about lighting a fire, in order to keep themosquitos at a distance, selecting a spot to kindle it, behind aswell on the land, that concealed the light from all on the othershore. In the morning, it would be necessary to extinguish thatfire, lest its smoke should betray their position. It was whilethese things were in progress, and after le Bourdon had himselfprocured the fuel necessary to feed pretty Margery's fire, that hequestioned the Chippewa touching his captivity.

　　"Yes, tell all 'bout him," answered the Indian, as soon asinterrogated--"no good to hide trail from friend. 'Member when saygood-by up in openin' to Bourdon?"

　　"Certainly--I remember the very instant when you left me. ThePottawattamie went on one path, and you went on another. I was gladof that, as you seemed to think he was not your friend."

　　"Yes; good not to travel on same path as inimy, 'cause he quarrelsometime," coolly returned the Indian. "Dis time, path cometogether, somehow; and Pottawattamie lose he scalp."

　　"I am aware of all that, Pigeonswing, and wish it had not been so. Ifound the body of Elksfoot sitting up against a tree soon after youleft me, and knew by whose hands he had fallen."

　　"Didn't find scalp, eh?"

　　"No, the scalp had been taken; though I accounted that but forlittle, since the man's life was gone. There is little gained bycarrying on war in this manner, making the woods, and the openings,and the prairies, alike unsafe. You see, to what distress thisfamily is reduced by your Injin manner of making war."

　　"How you make him, den--want, to hear. Go kiss, and give venison toinimy, or go get his scalp, eh? Which bess fashion to make himafeard, and own you master?"

　　"All that may be done without killing single travellers, ormurdering women and children. The peace will be made none the soonerbetween England and America, because you have got the scalp ofElksfoot."

　　"No haben't got him any longer; wish had--Pottawattamie take himaway, and say he bury him. Well, let him hide him in a hole deep aswhite man's well, can't hide Pigeonswing honor dere, too. Dat issafe as notch cut on stick can make him!"

　　This notch on a stick was the Indian mode of gazetting a warrior;and a certain number of these notches was pretty certain to procurefor him a sort of savage brevet, which answered his purpose quite aswell as the modern mode of brevetting at Washington answers ourpurpose. Neither brings any pay, we believe, nor any command, exceptin such cases as rarely occur, and then only to the advantage ofgovernment. There are varieties in honor, as in any other humaninterest: so are there many moral degrees in warfare. Thus, the veryindividual who admires the occupation of Algiers, or that of Tahiti,or the attack on Canton, together with the long train of Indianevents which have dyed the peninsulas of the East in the blood oftheir people, sees an alarming enormity in the knocking down of thewalls of Vera Cruz, though the breach opened a direct road into SanJuan de Ulloa. In the eyes of the same profound moralists, thegaritas of Mexico ought to have been respected, as so many doorsopening into the boudoirs of the beautiful dames of that finecapital; it being a monstrous thing to fire a shot into the streetsof a town, no matter how many came out of them. We are happy,therefore, to have it in our power to add these touches ofphilosophy that came from Pigeonswing to those of the sages of theold world, by way of completing a code of international morals onthis interesting subject, in which the student shall be at a loss tosay which he most admires--that which comes from the schools, orthat which comes direct from the wilderness.

　　"So best," answered the bee-hunter. "I wish I could persuade you tothrow away that disgusting thing at your belt. Remember, Chippewa,you are now among Christians, and ought to do as Christians wish."

　　"What Christians do, eh?" returned the Indian, with a sneer, "getdrunk like Whiskey Centre, dere? Cheat poor red man; den get down onknee and look up at Manitou? Dat what Christian do, eh?"

　　"They who do such things are Christian but in name--you must thinkbetter of such as are Christians in fact."

　　"Ebberybody call himself Christian, tell you--all pale-faceChristian, dey say. Now, listen to Chippewa. Once talk long talkwit' missionary--tell all about Christian--what Christian do--whatChristian say--how he eat, how he sleep, how he drinkwish Pigeonwing Christian--den 'member so'ger at garrison--no eat,no sleep, no drink Christian fashion--do ebbery t'ing so'gerfashion--swear, fight, cheat, get drunk--wuss dan Injin--datChristian, eh?"

　　"No, that is not acting like a Christian; and I fear very few of uswho call ourselves by that name, act as if we were Christians, intruth," said le Bourdon, conscious of the justice of the Chippewa'saccusation.

　　"Just dat--now, I get him--ask missionary, one day, where allChristian go to, so dat Injin can't find him--none in woods--none onprairie--none in garrison--none in Mack'naw--none at Detroit--whereall go to, den, so Injin can't find him, on'y in missionary talk?"

　　"I am curious to know what answer your missionary made to thatquestion."

　　"Well, tell you--say, on'y one in ten t'ousant raal Christians 'mongpale-face, dough all call himself Christian! dat what Injin t'inkqueer, eh?"

　　"It is not easy to make a red man understand all the ways of thepale-faces, Pigeonswing; but we will talk of these things anothertime, when we are more at our ease. Just now, I wish to learn all Ican of the manner in which you fell into the hands of thePottawattamies."

　　"Dat plain 'nough--wish Christian talk half as plain. You see,Bourdon, dat Elksfoot on scout, when we meet in openin', up river. Iknow'd his ar'nd, and so took scalp. Dem Pottawattamie his friend--when dey come to meet ole chief, no find him; but find Pigeonwing;got me when tired and 'sleep; got Elkfoot scalp wid me--sorry fordat--know scalp by scalp-lock, which had gray hair, and some mark.So put me in canoe, and meant to take Chippewa to Chicago to torturehim--but too much wind. So, when meet friend in t'odder canoe, comeback here to wait little while."

　　This was the simple explanation of the manner in which Pigeonswinghad fallen into the hands of his enemies. It would seem thatElksfoot had come in a canoe from the mouth of the St. Joseph's to apoint about half-way between that river and the mouth of theKalamazoo, and there landed. What the object of the party was, doesnot exactly appear, though it is far from being certain that it wasnot to seize the bee-hunter, and confiscate his effects. Although leBourdon was personally a stranger to Elksfoot, news flies throughthe wilderness in an extraordinary manner; and it was not at allunlikely that the fact of a white American's being in the openingsshould soon spread, along with the tidings that the hatchet was dugup, and that a party should go out in quest of his scalp and theplunder. It would seem that the savage tact of the Chippewa detectedthat in the manner of the Pottawattamie chief, which assured him theintentions of the old warrior were not amicable; and that he tookthe very summary process which has been related, not only to securehis scalp, but effectually to put it out of his power to do anymischief to one who was an ally, and by means of recent confidence,now a friend. All this the Indian explained to his companion, in hisusual clipped English, but with a clearness sufficient to make itperfectly intelligible to his listener. The bee-hunter listened withthe most profound attention, for he was fully aware of theimportance of comprehending all the hazards of his own situation.

　　While this dialogue was going on, Margery had succeeded in lightingher fire, and was busy in preparing some warm compound, which sheknew would be required by her unhappy brother after his debauch,Dorothy passed often between the fire and the canoe, feeling awife's anxiety in the fate of her husband. As for the Chippewa,intoxication was a very venial offence in his eyes; though he had acontempt for a man who would thus indulge while on a warpath. TheAmerican Indian does possess this merit of adapting his deportmentto his circumstances. When engaged in war he usually prepareshimself, in the coolest and wisest manner, to meet its struggles,indulging only in moments of leisure, and of comparative security.It is true that the march of what is called civilization is fastchanging the red man's character, and he is very apt now to do thatwhich he sees done by the "Christians" around him.

　　Le Bourdon, when his dialogue with the Chippewa was over, and aftera few words of explanation with Margery, took his own canoe, andpaddled through the rice-plants into the open water of the river, toreconnoitre. The breadth of the stream induced him to float downbefore the wind, until he reached a point where he could againcommand a view of the hut. What he there saw, and what he next did,must be reserved for a succeeding chapter.