and Burwink."

"Not likely, but if they come to our fire we shall soon find out. Look!"

To their astonishment, the little fire which they had left only a few
minutes before burned up brightly, showing that a lot of fuel had been
thrown on it.

Too many trees and too much undergrowth obtruded for them to detect
anything more than the great increase in brightness.

"The darkness will prevent their following our footprints," whispered
the mother.

"I will go a little nearer and find out what it means: it may be, after
all, that they are friends."

"Be careful, my son."

"I will."

It was not a hard task Ben Ripley gave himself. He had not far to go,
and he proceeded with so much caution that no risk was involved. Only
half the distance was passed when he gained a full view of the camp fire
and its surroundings.

The sight was disquieting. Three Indian warriors were there. One had
been gathering dry sticks which he flung on the blaze; another was
helping himself to what was left of the cooked turkey; while the third,
bent low, moved slowly around the lit up portion of the ground with his
eyes fixed on it.

It was plain he was scrutinizing the footprints made by the party that
had left just in time to escape them. It was a fortunate discovery made
by Linna!

With the aid of the bright glare, it could not take him long to identify
the little party as fugitives fleeing eastward, though it may be
questioned whether they learned that it consisted of one large boy, an
adult woman, and two small children.

They were in the battle yesterday. They have left others to look after
those in Wyoming, while they are hunting the poor creatures that have
taken to the woods.

The Iroquois who had been studying the ground straightened himself up
and said something to the others. One of them then flung more fuel on
the flames, and he who was ravenously eating suspended his operations,
but quickly resumed again, as if he liked his occupation better than
anything else to which he could turn his attention.

Then the first stooped down and caught up a burning brand. Several quick
circles over his head fanned it into a vigorous blaze. Holding it aloft,
with his shoulders bent forward, he moved slowly towards Ben Ripley.

He was tracing the footprints by the aid of the torch!

"Gracious! he will be among us in a minute," was the terrifying thought
of the lad, who turned and ran back to his friends, in such haste that
he was in