This unexpected incident, the climax of a long series of disappointments, all of a character so painful and exciting, drove the young soldier again to despair; which feeling the tantalising sense that he was now within but a few miles of his companions in exile, and separated from them only by the single obstruction before him, exasperated into a species of fury bordering almost upon frenzy.

“There is but one way of escape,” he exclaimed, without venturing even a look towards his kinswoman, or seeking by idle words to conceal the danger of their situation:  “we must pass the river, the roar of the water will drown the noise of our foot-steps; we can cross unheard and unlooked for; and then, if there be no way of avoiding them, we can pour a volley among the rascals at their fire, and take advantage of their confusion to gallop by.  Look to the women, Nathan Slaughter; and you, Pardon Dodge, and Emperor, follow me, and do as you see me do.”

“Truly,” said Wandering Nathan, with admirable coolness and complacency, “thee is a courageous young man, and a young man of sense and spirit,—­that is to say, after thee own sense of matters and things:  and, truly, if it were not for the poor women, and for the blazing fire, thee might greatly confound and harmfully vanquish the evil creatures, there placed so unluckily on the bank, in the way and manner which thee thinks of.  But, friend, thee plan will not do:  thee might pass unheard indeed, but not unseen.  Does thee not see how brightly the fire blazes on the water?  Truly, we should all be seen and fired at, before we reached the middle of the stream; and, truly, I should not be surprised if the gleam of the fire on the pale faces of thee poor women should bring a shot upon us where we stand; and, therefore, friend, the sooner we get us out of the way, the better.”

“And where shall we betake us?” demanded Roland, the sternness of whose accents but ill-disguised the gloom and hopelessness of his feelings.

“To a place of safety and of rest,” replied the guide, “and to one that is nigh at hand; where we may lodge us, with little fear of Injuns, until such time as the waters shall bate a little, or the stars give us light to cross them at a place where are no evil Shawnees to oppose us.  And then, friend as to slipping by these foolish creatures who make such bright fires on the public highway, truly, with little Peter’s assistance, we can do it with great ease.”

“Let us not delay,” said Roland; and added sullenly, “though where a place of rest and safety can be found in these detestable woods, I can no longer imagine.”