Chapter XXVII.

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　Thou to whom every faun and satyr flies For willing service; whether to surprise The squatted hare, while in half sleeping fits, Or upward ragged precipices flit To save poor lambkins from the eagle's maw; Or by mysterious enticement draw Bewildered shepherds to their path again;-- --KEATS.It can easily be understood that the party with the canoes were leftby Peter in a state of great anxiety. The distance between the siteof the hut and their place of concealment was but little more than aquarter of a mile, and the yell of the savages had often reachedtheir ears, notwithstanding the cover of the woods. This proximity,of itself, was fearful; but the uncertainty that le Bourdon felt onthe subject of Peter's real intentions added greatly to his causesof concern. Of course, he knew but little of the sudden change thathad come over this mysterious chief's feelings; nor is it verylikely that he would have been able to appreciate it, even had thefact been more fully stated. Our hero had very little acquaintancewith the dogmas of Christianity, and would have, most probably,deemed it impossible that so great a revolution of purpose couldhave been so suddenly wrought in the mind of man, had the true stateof the case been communicated to him. He would have been readyenough to allow that, with God, nothing is impossible; but mighthave been disposed to deny the influence of His Holy Spirit, asexhibited in this particular form, for a reason no better than thecircumstance that he himself had never been the subject of such apower. All that Peter had said, therefore, served rather to mystifyhim, than to explain, in its true colors, what had actuallyoccurred. With Margery it was different. Her schooling had been farbetter than that of any other of the party, and, while she admiredthe manly appearance, and loved the free, generous character of herhusband, she had more than once felt pained at the passing thoughtsof his great indifference to sacred things. This feeling in leBourdon, however, was passive rather than active, and gave her akind interest in his future welfare, rather than any present painthrough acts and words.

　　But, as respects their confidence in Peter, this young couple weremuch farther apart than in their religious notions. The bee-hunterhad never been without distrust, though his apprehensions had beenoccasionally so far quieted as to leave him nearly free of themaltogether; while his wife had felt the utmost confidence in thechief, from the very commencement of their acquaintance. It would beuseless, perhaps, to attempt to speculate on the causes; but it iscertain that there are secret sources of sympathy that drawparticular individuals toward each other and antipathies that keepthem widely separated. Men shall meet for the first time, and feelthemselves attracted toward each other, like two drops of water, orrepelled, like the corks of an electric machine.

　　The former had been the case with Peter and Margery. They liked eachother from the first, and kind orifices had soon come to increasethis feeling. The girl had now seen so much of the Indians, as toregard them much as she did others, or with the discriminations, andtastes, or distastes, with which we all regard our fellow-creatures;feeling no particular cause of estrangement. It is true that Margerywould not have been very likely to fall in love with a young Indian,had one come in her way of a suitable age and character; for herAmerican notions on the subject of color might have interposeddifficulties; but, apart from the tender sentiments, she could seegood and bad qualities in one of the aborigines, as well as in awhite man. As a consequence of this sympathy between Peter andMargery, the last had ever felt the utmost confidence in theprotection and friendship of the first. This she did, even while thestruggle was going on in his breast on the subject of including herin his fell designs, or of making an exception in her favor. Itshows the waywardness of our feelings that Margery had never reposedconfidence in Pigeonswing, who was devotedly the friend of leBourdon, and who remained with them for no other reason than ageneral wish to be of use. Something brusque in his manner, whichwas much less courteous and polished than that of Peter, had earlyrendered her dissatisfied with him, and once estranged, she hadnever felt disposed to be on terms of intimacy sufficient toascertain his good or bad qualities.

　　The great change of feeling in Peter was not very clearly understoodby Margery, any more than it was by her husband; though, had herattention been drawn more strictly to it, she would have best knownhow to appreciate it. But this knowledge was not wanting to put herperfectly at peace, so far as apprehension of his doing her harm wasconcerned. This sense of security she now manifested in aconversation with le Bourdon, that took place soon after Peter hadleft them.

　　"I wish we weren't in the hands of this red-skin, Margery," said herhusband, a little more off his guard than was his wont.

　　"Of Peter! You surprise me, Benjamin. I think we could not be inbetter hands, since we have got this risk to run with the savages.If it was Pigeonswing that you feared, I could understand it."

　　"I will answer for Pigeonswing with my life."

　　"I am glad to hear you say so, for I do not half like him. PerhapsI am prejudiced against him. The scalp he took down at the mouth ofthe river set me against him from the first."

　　"Do you not know, Margery, that your great friend goes by the nameof 'Scalping Peter'?"

　　"Yes, I know it very well; but I do not believe he ever took a scalpin his life."

　　"Did he ever tell you as much as that?"

　　"I can't say that he did; but he has never paraded anything of thesort before my eyes, like Pigeonswing. I do not half like thatChippewa, dear Bourdon."

　　"No fear of him, Margery; nor, when I come to think it all over, doI see why Peter should have brought us here, if he means anythingwrong. The man is so mysterious, that I cannot line him down to hishole."

　　"My word for it, Bourdon, that when you do, it will take you to afriendly hive. I have put almost as much faith in Peter as in you orGershom. You heard what he said about Parson Amen and the corporal."

　　"And how coolly he took it all," answered her husband, shaking hishead. "It has been a sudden departure for them, and one would thinkeven an Injin might have felt it more."

　　Margery's cheek grew pale, and her limbs trembled a little. It was aminute ere she could pursue the discourse.

　　"This is terrible, but I will not, cannot believe it," she said."I'm sure, Bourdon, we ought to be very thankful to Peter for havingbrought us here. Remember how earnestly he listened to the words ofthe Saviour."

　　"If he has brought us here with a good intention, I thank him forit. But I scarce know what to think. Pigeonswing has given me many ahint, which I have understood to mean that we ought not to trustthis unknown Injin too much."

　　"So has he given me some of his hints, though I would sooner trustPeter than trust him, any time."

　　"Our lives are in the care of Providence, I see. If we can reallyrely on these two Injins, all may be well; for Peter has brought usto an admirable cover, and he says that the Chippewa prepared it."

　　The young husband and his wife now landed, and began to examine moreparticularly into the state of the swamp, near their place ofconcealment. Just at that spot, the bank of the river was higherthan in most of the low land, and was dry, with a soil thatapproached sand. This was the place where the few young pines hadgrown. The dry ground might have covered four or five acres, and somany trees having been felled, light and air were admitted, in a wayto render the place comparatively cheerful. The branches of thefelled trees made a sufficient cover in all directions, though theswamp itself was more than that, almost a defence, toward theOpenings. The bee-hunter found it was possible, though it wasexceedingly difficult, to make his way through it. He ascertainedthe fact, however, since it might be important to their futuremovements to know it.

　　In a word, le Bourdon made a complete reconnaissance of hisposition. He cleared a spot for the females, and made a sort of hut,that would serve as a protection against rain, and in which they allmight sleep at night. There was little doubt that this place must beoccupied for some days, if Peter was acting in good faith, since anearly movement would infallibly lead to detection. Time must begiven to the Indians to precede them, or the great numbers of thesavages would scarce leave a hope of escape. A greater sense ofsecurity succeeded this examination, and these arrangements. Thedanger was almost entirely to be apprehended on the side of theriver. A canoe passing up-stream might, indeed, discover their placeof concealment, but it was scarcely to be apprehended that one wouldwade through the mud and water of the swamp to approach them in anyother direction.

　　Under these circumstances, le Bourdon began to feel more security intheir position. Could he now be certain of Peter, his mind would becomparatively at ease, and he might turn his attention altogether tomaking the party comfortable. Margery, who seldom quitted his side,reasoned with him on the subject of the mysterious chief's goodfaith, and by means of her own deep reliance on him, she came atlast to the point of instilling some of her own confidence into themind of her husband. From that time he worked at the shelter for thefemales, and the other little arrangements their situation renderednecessary, with greater zest, and with far more attention to thedetails. So long as we are in doubt of accomplishing good, wehesitate about employing our energies; but once let hope revivewithin us, in the shape of favorable results, and we become new men,bracing every nerve to the task, and working with redoubled spirit;even should it be at the pump of the sinking ship, which, webelieve, ranks the highest among the toils that are inflicted on theunfortunate.

　　For three days and nights did le Bourdon and his friends remain onthat dry land of the swamp, without hearing or seeing anything ofeither Peter or Pigeonswing. The time was growing long, and theparty anxious; though the sense of security was much increased bythis apparent exemption from danger. Still, uncertainty, and thewish to ascertain the precise state of things in the Openings, weregradually getting to be painful, and it was with great satisfactionthat the bee-hunter met his young wife as she came running towardhim, on the morning of the fourth day, to announce that an Indianwas approaching, by wading in the margin of the river, keepingalways in the water so as to leave no trail. Hurrying to a pointwhence their visitor might be seen, le Bourdon soon perceived it wasno other than Pigeonswing. In a few minutes this Indian arrived, andwas gladly received by all four of the fugitives, who gatheredaround him, eager to hear the news.

　　"You are welcome, Chippewa," cried le Bourdon, shaking his friendcordially by the hand. "We were half afraid we might never see youagain. Do you bring us good or evil tidings?"

　　"Mustn't be squaw, and ask too much question, Bourdon," returned thered-skin, carefully examining the priming of his rifle, in order tomake sure it was not wet. "Got plenty venison, eh?"

　　"Not much venison is left, but we have caught a good many fish,which have helped us along. I have killed a dozen large squirrels,too, with your bow and arrows, which I find you left in your canoe.But--"

　　"Yes, he good bow, dat--might kill hummin'-bird wid dat bow. Fishgood here, eh?" "They are eatable, when a body can get no better.But now, I should think, Pigeonswing, you might give us some of thenews."

　　"Mustn't be squaw, Bourdon--bad for warrior be squaw. Alway bess beman, and be patient, like man. What you t'ink, Bourdon? Got him atlast!"

　　"Got what my good fellow? I see nothing about you, but your arms andammunition."

　　"Got scalp of dat Weasel! Wasn't dat well done? Nebber no youngwarrior take more scalp home dan Pigeonswing carry dis time! Gott'ree; all hid, where Bear's Meat nebber know. Take 'em away, whenhe get ready to march."

　　"Well, well, Chippewa--I suppose it will not be easy to reason youout of this feelin'--but what has become of the red-skins who burnedmy cabin, and who killed the missionary and the corporal?"

　　"All about--dough must go down river. Look here, Bourdon, some ofdem chief fool enough to t'ink bee carry you off on his wing!"

　　Here the Chippewa looked his contempt for the credulity andignorance of the others, though he did not express it after theboisterous manner in which a white man of his class might haveindulged. To him le Bourdon was a good fellow, but no conjuror, andhe understood the taking of the bee too well to have any doubts asto the character of that process. His friend had let him amusehimself by the hour in looking through his spy-glass, so that themind of this one savage was particularly well fortified against theinroads of the weaknesses that had invaded those of most of themembers of the great council. Consequently, he was amused with thenotion taken up by some of the others, that le Bourdon had beencarried off by bees, though he manifested his amusement in a veryIndian-like fashion.

　　"So much the better," answered le Bourdon; "and I hope they havefollowed to line me down to my hive in the settlements."

　　"Most on 'em go--yes, dat true. But some don't go. Plenty of Injinsstill about dis part of Opening."

　　"What are we then to do? We shall soon be in want of food. The fishdo not bite as they did, and I have killed all the squirrels I canfind. You know I dare not use a rifle."

　　"Don't be squaw, Bourdon. When Injin get marry he grows good deallike squaw at fuss; but dat soon go away. I spose it's just so widpale-face. Mustn't be squaw, Bourdon. Dat bad for warrior. What youdo for eat? Why, see dere," pointing to an object that was floatingslowly down the river, the current of which was very sluggish justin that reach. "Dere as fat buck as ever did see, eh?"

　　Sure enough the Indian had killed a deer, of which the Openings werefull, and having brought it to the river, he had constructed a raftof logs, and placing the carcase on it, he had set his game adrift,taking care to so far precede it as to be in readiness to tow itinto port. When this last operation was performed, it was found thatthe Chippewa did not heedlessly vaunt the quality of his prize. Whatwas more, so accurately had he calculated the time, and the means ofsubsistence in the possession of the fugitives, that his supply camein just as it was most needed. In all this he manifested no morethan the care of an experienced and faithful hunter. Next to thewar-path, the hunting-ground is the great field for an Indian'sglory; deeds and facts so far eclipsing purely intellectualqualifications with savages, as to throw oratory, though muchesteemed by them, and wisdom at the Council Fires, quite into theshade. In all this, we find the same propensity among ourselves. Thecommon mind, ever subject to these impulses, looks rather to suchexploits as address themselves to the senses and the imagination,than to those qualities which the reason alone can best appreciate;and in this, ignorance asserts its negative power over allconditions of life.

　　Pigeonswing now condescended to enter on such explanations as thestate of the case rendered necessary. His account was sufficientlyclear, and it manifested throughout the sagacity and shrewdness of apractised hunter and scout. We shall not attempt to give his words,which would require too much space, but the substance of his storywas briefly this:

　　As has been alluded to already, the principal chiefs, on asuggestion of Bear's Meat, had followed the young men down theKalamazoo, dividing themselves by a part of their body's crossingthe stream at the first favorable spot. In this way the Indiansproceeded, sweeping the river before them, and examining every placethat seemed capable of concealing a canoe. Runners were kept inconstant motion between the several parties, in order to let thestate of the search be known to all; and, feigning to be one ofthese very men, Pigeonswing had held communication with several whomhe purposely met, and to whom he imparted such invented informationas contributed essentially to send the young men forward on a falsescent. In this way, the main body of the savages descended the riversome sixty miles, following its windings, in the first day and ahalf. Here Pigeonswing left them, turning his own face up stream, inorder to rejoin his friends. Of Peter he had no knowledge; neitherknowing, nor otherwise learning, what had become of the great chief.On his way up stream, Pigeonswing met several more Indians; runnerslike himself, or as he seemed to be; or scouts kept on the lookoutfor the fugitives. He had no difficulty in deceiving these men. Noneof them had been of Crowsfeather's party, and he was a stranger tothem all. Ignorant of his real character, they received hisinformation without distrust, and the orders he pretended to conveywere obeyed by them without the smallest hesitation. In this way,then, Pigeonswing contrived to send all the scouts he met away fromthe river, by telling them that there was reason to think the pale-faces had abandoned the stream, and that it was the wish of Bear'sMeat that their trail should be looked for in the interior. This wasthe false direction that he gave to all, thereby succeeding bettereven than he had hoped in clearing the banks of the Kalamazoo ofobservers and foes. Nevertheless, many of those whom he knew to beout, some quite in the rear of the party, and others in its front,and at no great distance from them, he did not meet; of course hecould not get his false directions to their ears. There were, infact, so many of the Indians and so few of the whites, that it wasan easy matter to cover the path with young warriors, any one partyof whom would be strong enough to capture two men and as many women.

　　Having told the tale of his own doings, Pigeonswing next came to hisproposition for the mode of future proceeding. He proposed that thefamily should get into the canoes that very night, and commence itsflight by going down the stream directly toward its foes! Thissounded strangely, but there did not seem to be any alternative. Amarch across the peninsula would be too much for the females, andthere was the certainty that their trail would be found. It may seemstrange to those who are unacquainted with the American Indian, andhis habits, to imagine that, in so large an expanse, the signs ofthe passage of so small a party might not escape detection; but suchwas the case. To one unaccustomed to the vigilance and intelligenceof these savages, it must appear just as probable that the vesselcould be followed through the wastes of the ocean, by means of itswake, as that the footprints should be so indelible as to furnishsigns that can be traced for days. Such, however, is the fact, andno one understood it better than the Chippewa. He was also awarethat the country toward Ohio, whither the fugitives would naturallydirect their course, now that the English were in possession ofDetroit, must soon be a sort of battle-ground, to which most of thewarriors of that region would eagerly repair. Under all thecircumstances, therefore, he advised the flight by means of theriver. Le Bourdon reasoned on all he heard, and, still entertainingsome of his latent distrust of Peter, and willing to get beyond hisreach, he soon acquiesced in the proposition, and came fully intothe plan.

　　It was now necessary to reload the canoes. This was done in thecourse of the day, and every arrangement was made, so as to be readyfor a start as soon as the darkness set in. Everybody was glad tomove, though all were aware of the extent of the hazard they ran.The females, in particular, felt their hearts beat, as each, in herhusband's canoe, issued out of the cover into the open river.Pigeonswing took the lead, paddling with a slow, but steady sweep ofhis arm, and keeping as close as was convenient to one bank. Byadopting this precaution, he effectually concealed the canoes fromthe eyes of all on that side of the river, unless they stooddirectly on its margin, and had the aid of the shadows to helpconceal them from any who might happen to be on the other. In thisway, then, the party proceeded, passing the site of the hut, and thegrove of Openings around it, undetected. As the river necessarilyflowed through the lowest land, its banks were wooded much of theway, which afforded great protection to the fugitives; and this somuch the more because these woods often grew in swamps where thescouts would not be likely to resort.

　　About midnight the canoes reached the first rift. An hour was lostin unloading and in reloading the canoes, and in passing thedifficulties at that point. As soon as this was done, the party re-embarked, and resorted once more to the use of the paddle, in orderto gain a particular sheltered reach of the river previously to thereturn of light. This was effected successfully, and the partylanded.

　　It now appeared that Pigeonswing had chosen another swamp as a placeof concealment for the fugitives to use during the day. Theseswamps, through which the river wound its way in short reaches, wereadmirably adapted to such purposes. Dark, sombre, and hardlypenetrable on the side of the land, they were little likely to beentered after a first examination. Nor was it at all probable thatfemales, in particular, would seek a refuge in such a place. But theChippewa had found the means to obviate the natural obstacles of thelow land. There were several spots where the water from the riverset back into the swamp, forming so many little creeks; and into thelargest of one of these he pushed his canoe, the others followingwhere he led. By resorting to such means, the shelter now obtainedwas more complete, perhaps, than that previously left

　　Pigeonswing forced his light boat up the shallow inlet, until hereached a bit of dry land, where he brought up, announcing that asthe abiding-place during the day. Glad enough was every one to geton shore, in a spot that promised security, after eight hours ofunremitting paddling and of painful excitement. Notwithstanding therifts and carrying-places they had met, and been obliged toovercome, le Bourdon calculated that they had made as many as thirtymiles in the course of that one night. This was a great movement,and to all appearances it had been made without detection. As forthe Chippewa, he was quite content, and no sooner was his canoesecured, than he lighted his pipe and sat down to his enjoyment withan air of composure and satisfaction.

　　"And here, you think, Pigeonswing, that we shall be safe during theday?" demanded le Bourdon, approaching the fallen tree on which theIndian had taken his seat.

　　"Sartain--no Pottawattamie come here. Too wet. Don't like wet. An'tduck, or goose--like dry land, juss like squaw. Dis good 'baccy,Bourdon--hope you got more for friend."

　　"I have enough for us all, Pigeonswing, and you shall have a fullshare. Now, tell me; what will be your next move, and where do youintend to pass the morrow?"

　　"Juss like diss. Plenty of swamp, Bourdon, on Kekalamazoo.[Footnote: This is the true Indian word, though the whites have seenfit to omit the first syllable.] Run canoe in swamp; den safe'nough. Injins won't look 'ere, 'cause he don't know whereaboutlook. Don't like swamp. Great danger down at mouth of river."

　　"So it has seemed to me, Chippewa. The Injins must be there in astrong force, and we shall find it no easy matter to get throughthem. How do you propose to do it?" "Go by in night. No udder way.When can't see, can't see. Dere plenty of rush dere; dat good t'ing,and, p'raps, dat help us. Rush good cover for canoe. Expec', when weget down 'ere, to get some scalp, too. Plenty of Pottawattamie aboutdat lodge, sartain; and it very hard if don't get some on him scalp.You mean stop, and dig up cache; eh, Bourdon?"

　　The cool, quiet manner in which Pigeonswing revealed his own plans,and inquired into those of his friend, had, at least, the effect torevive the confidence of le Bourdon. He could not think the dangervery great so long as one so experienced as the Chippewa felt somuch confidence in his own future proceedings; and, after talking ashort time longer with this man, the bee-hunter went to seekMargery, in order to impart to her a due portion of his own hopes.

　　The sisters were preparing the breakfast. This was done without theuse of fire, it being too hazardous to permit smoke to rise abovethe tops of the trees. Many is the camp that has been discovered bythe smoke, which can be seen at a great distance; and it is acertain sign of the presence of man, when it ascends in threads, orsuch small columns as denote a domestic fire beneath. This is verydifferent from the clouds that float above the burning prairies, andwhich all, at once, impute to their true origin. The danger of usingfire had been so much guarded against by our fugitives, that thecooking of the party had been done at night; the utmost cautionhaving been used to prevent the fire itself from being seen, andcare taken to extinguish it long before the return of day. A supplyof cold meat was always on hand, and had it not been, the fugitiveswould have known how to live on berries, or, at need, to fast;anything was preferable, being exposed to certain capture.

　　As soon as the party had broken their fast, arrangements were madefor recruiting nature by sleep. As for Pigeonswing, Indian-like, hehad eaten enormously, no reasonable quantity of venison sufficing toappease his appetite; and when he had eaten, he lay down in thebottom of his canoe and slept. Similar dispositions were made oftheir persons by the rest, and half an hour after the meal wasended, all there were in a profound sleep. No watch was considerednecessary, and none was kept.

　　The rest of the weary is sweet. Long hours passed, ere any one thereawoke; but no sooner did the Chippewa move than all the rest wereafoot. It was now late in the day, and it was time to think oftaking the meal that was to sustain them through the toil andfatigues of another arduous night. This was done; the necessarypreparations being made for a start ere the sun had set. The canoeswere then shoved as near the mouth of the inlet as it was safe togo, while the light remained. Here they stopped, and a consultationtook place, as to the manner of proceeding.

　　No sooner did the shades of evening close around the place than thefugitives again put forth. The night was clouded and dark, and somuch of the way now lay through forests that there was little reasonto apprehend detection. The chief causes of delay were the rifts,and the portages, as had been the case the night before. Luckily, leBourdon had been up and down the stream so often as to be a verytolerable pilot in its windings. He assumed the control, and bymidnight the greatest obstacle to that evening's progress wasovercome. At the approach of day, Pigeonswing pointed out anothercreek, in another swamp, where the party found a refuge for thesucceeding day. In this manner four nights were passed on the river,and as many days in swamps, without discovery. The Chippewa hadnicely calculated his time and his distances, and not the smallestmistake was made. Each morning a place of shelter was reached insufficient season; and each night the fugitives were ready for thestart as the day shut in. In this manner, most of the river wasdescended, until a distance that could be easily overcome in acouple of hours of paddling alone remained between the party and themouth of the stream. Extreme caution was now necessary, for signs ofIndians in the neighborhood had been detected at several points inthe course of the last night's work. On one occasion, indeed, theescape was so narrow as to be worth recording.

　　It was at a spot where the stream flowed through a forest denserthan common, that Pigeonswing heard voices on the river, ahead ofhim. One Indian was calling to another, asking to be set across thestream in a canoe. It was too late to retreat, and so muchuncertainty existed as to the nearness, or distance, of the danger,that the Chippewa deemed it safest to bring all three of his canoestogether, and to let them float past the point suspected, or ratherknown, to be occupied by enemies. This was done, with the utmostcare. The plan succeeded, though not without running a very greatrisk. The canoes did float past unseen, though there was a minute oftime when le Bourdon fancied by the sounds that savages were talkingto each other, within a hundred feet of his ears. Additionalsecurity, however, was felt in consequence of the circumstance,since the pursuers must imagine the river below them to be free fromthe pursued.

　　The halt that morning was made earlier than had been the practicepreviously. This was done because the remaining distance was sosmall that, in continuing to advance, the party would have incurredthe risk of reaching the mouth of the river by daylight. This was tobe avoided on every account, but principally because it was of greatimportance to conceal from the savages the direction taken. Were thechiefs certain that their intended victims were on Lake Michigan, itwould be possible for them to send parties across the isthmus, thatshould reach points on Lake Huron, days in advance of the arrival ofthe bee-hunter and his friends in the vicinity of Saginaw, or Pointeaux Barques, for instance, and where the canoes would be almostcertain to pass near the shore, laying their ambushes to accomplishthese ends. It was thought very material, therefore, to conceal themovements, even after the lake might be reached, though le Bourdonhad not a doubt of his canoes much outsailing those of the savages.The Indians are not very skilful in the use of sails, while the bee-hunter knew how to manage a bark canoe in rough water, with unusualskill. In the common acceptation, he was no sailor; but, in his ownpeculiar craft, there was not a man living who could excel him indexterity or judgment.

　　The halting-place that morning was not in a swamp, for none offeredat a suitable distance from the mouth of the river. On the contrary,it was in a piece of Opening, that was tolerably well garnished withtrees, however, and through which ran a small brook that poured itstribute into the Kalamazoo. The Chippewa had taken notice of thisbrook, which was large enough to receive the canoes, where theymight be concealed in the rushes. A favorable copse, surrounded withelders, afforded a covered space on shore, and these advantages wereimproved for an encampment.

　　Instead of seeking his rest as usual, on reaching this cover,Pigeonswing left the party on a scout. He walked up the brook somedistance, in order to conceal his trail, and then struck across theOpening, taking the direction westward, or toward the river's mouth.As for le Bourdon and his friends, they ate and slept as usual,undisturbed; but arose some hours before the close of day.

　　Thus far, a great work had been accomplished. The canoes haddescended the stream with a success that was only equalled by thehardihood of the measure, conducted by an intelligence that reallyseemed to amount to an instinct Pigeonswing carried a map of theKalamazoo in his head, and seemed never at a loss to know where tofind the particular place he sought. It is true, he had roamedthrough those Openings ever since he was a child; and an Indianseldom passes a place susceptible of being made of use to hishabits, that he does not take such heed of its peculiarities, as torender him the master of all its facilities.

　　Margery was now full of hope, while the bee-hunter was filled withapprehensions. She saw all things couleur de rose, for she wasyoung, happy, and innocent; but he better understood that they werejust approaching the most serious moment of their flight. He knewthe vigilance of the American savage, and could not deceive himselfon the subject of the danger they must run. The mouth of the riverwas just the place that, of all others, would be the closestwatched, and to pass it would require not only all their skill andcourage, but somewhat of the fostering care of Providence. It mightbe done with success, though the chances were much against