the stream, though it was step by step, as men move who look
for an object that has been lost. In this manner they passed the
artificial screen, and Pathfinder opened his mouth in that hearty
but noiseless laugh that nature and habit had contributed to render
a peculiarity of the man. His triumph, however, was premature;
for the last of the retiring party, just at this moment casting a
look behind him, suddenly stopped; and his fixed attitude and steady
gaze at once betrayed the appalling fact that some neglected bush
had awakened his suspicions.

It was perhaps fortunate for the concealed that the warrior who
manifested these fearful signs of distrust was young, and had still
a reputation to acquire. He knew the importance of discretion
and modesty in one of his years, and most of all did he dread the
ridicule and contempt that would certainly follow a false alarm.
Without recalling any of his companions, therefore, he turned on
his own footsteps; and, while the others continued to descend the
river, he cautiously approached the bushes, on which his looks
were still fastened, as by a charm. Some of the leaves which were
exposed to the sun had drooped a little, and this slight departure
from the usual natural laws had caught the quick eyes of the Indian;
for so practised and acute do the senses of the savage become, more
especially when he is on the war-path, that trifles apparently of
the most insignificant sort often prove to be clues to lead him
to his object.

The trifling nature of the change which had aroused the suspicion
of this youth was an additional motive for not acquainting his
companions with his discovery. Should he really detect anything,
his glory would be the greater for being unshared; and should he