towards the place where the canoes had landed. What course they
might take on reaching that spot was only to be conjectured; for
the Serpent had felt the emergency to be too pressing to delay
looking for his friends any longer. From some indications that
were to be gathered from their gestures, however, he thought it
probable that their enemies might follow down in the margin of the
stream, but could not be certain.

As the Pathfinder related these facts to his companions, the
professional feelings of the two other white men came uppermost,
and both naturally reverted to their habits, in quest of the means
of escape.

"Let us run out the canoes at once," said Jasper eagerly; "the
current is strong, and by using the paddles vigorously we shall
soon be beyond the reach of these scoundrels!"

"And this poor flower, that first blossomed in the clearings --
shall it wither in the forest?" objected his friend, with a poetry
which he had unconsciously imbibed by his long association with
the Delawares.

"We must all die first," answered the youth, a generous color
mounting to his temples; "Mabel and Arrowhead's wife may lie down
in the canoes, while we do our duty, like men, on our feet."

"Ay, you are active at the paddle and the oar, Eau-douce, I will
allow, but an accursed Mingo is more active at his mischief; the
canoes are swift, but a rifle bullet is swifter."