any deficiency in the heels. Captain de Haldimar probably
thought otherwise; for when he had passed his unwilling
hand over the foot of Oucanasta, which, whatever her face
might have been, was certainly any thing but delicate,
and encountered numerous ragged excrescences and raspy
callosities that set all symmetry at defiance, a wonderful
revolution came over his feelings; and, secretly determining
the mocassins would be equally well placed on his own
feet, he no longer offered any opposition.

This important point arranged, the officer once more
followed his guide in silence. Gradually the forest, as
they advanced, became lighter with the lurid atmosphere
before alluded to; and at length, through the trees,
could be indistinctly seen the Indian fires from which
it proceeded. The young man was now desired by his
conductress to use the utmost circumspection in making
the circuit of the wood, in order to gain a position
immediately opposite to the point where the path they
had hitherto pursued terminated in the opening. This,
indeed, was the most dangerous and critical part of the
undertaking. A false step, or the crackling of a decayed
branch beneath the foot, would have been sufficient to
betray proximity, in which case his doom was sealed.

Fortunate did he now deem himself in having yielded to
the counsel of his guide. Had he retained his unbending
boot, it must have crushed whatever it pressed; whereas,
the pliant mocassin, yielding to the obstacles it
encountered, enabled him to pass noiselessly over them.