forest. Under these circumstances, Jasper submitted to be guided
by the Delaware, whose habits best fitted him to take the lead.
Still it was no easy matter to wade amid the roaring element at
that hour, and retain a clear recollection of the localities. By
the time they believed themselves to be in the centre of the
stream, the two shores were discernible merely by masses of obscurity
denser than common, the outlines against the clouds being barely
distinguishable by the ragged tops of the trees. Once or twice
the wanderers altered their course, in consequence of unexpectedly
stepping into deep water; for they knew that the boat had lodged
on the shallowest part of the rift. In short, with this fact for
their compass, Jasper and his companion wandered about in the water
for nearly a quarter of an hour; and at the end of that period,
which began to appear interminable to the young man, they found
themselves apparently no nearer the object of their search than
they had been at its commencement. Just as the Delaware was about
to stop, in order to inform his associate that they would do well
to return to the land, in order to take a fresh departure, he saw
the form of a man moving about in the water, almost within reach
of his arm. Jasper was at his side, and he at once understood that
the Iroquois were engaged on the same errand as he was himself.

"Mingo!" he uttered in Jasper's ear. "The Serpent will show his
brother how to be cunning."

The young sailor caught a glimpse of the figure at that instant,
and the startling truth also flashed on his mind. Understanding
the necessity of trusting all to the Delaware chief, he kept back,
while his friend moved cautiously in the direction in which the
strange form had vanished. In another moment it was seen again,