heir moccasins on the leaves. They passed
close to the log; and the dogs, having devoured their moose-meat,
trotted after their masters. Through a crevice in the log the boys
looked after them, and saw them disappear in the thick woods. They
remained in their covert until night, when they started again on their
long journey, taking a new route to avoid the Indians. At daybreak
they again concealed themselves, but travelled the next night and day
without resting. By this time they had consumed all the bread which
they had taken, and were fainting from hunger and weariness. Just at
the close of the third day they were providentially enabled to kill a
pigeon and a small tortoise, a part of which they ate raw, not daring
to make a fire, which might attract the watchful eyes of savages. On
the sixth day they struck upon an old Indian path, and, following it
until night, came suddenly upon a camp of the enemy. Deep in the
heart of the forest, under the shelter of a ridge of land heavily
timbered, a great fire of logs and brushwood was burning; and around
it the Indians sat, eating their moose-meat and smoking their pipes.

The poor fugitives, starving, weary, and chilled by the cold spring
blasts, gazed down upon the ample fire, and the savory meats which
the squaws were cooking by it, but felt no temptation to purchase
warmth and food by surrendering themselves to captivity. Death in
the forest seemed preferable. They turned and fled back upon their
track, expecting every moment to hear the yells of pursuers. The
morning found them seated on the bank of a small stream, their feet
torn and bleeding, and their bodies emaciated. The elder, as a last
effort, made search for roots, and fortunately discovered a few
ground-nuts [*glycine apios*], which served to refresh in some
degree himself and his still weaker companion. As they stood
together by the stream, hesitating and almost despairing, it occurred
to Isaac that the rivulet might lead to a larger stream of water, and
that to the sea and the white settlements near it; and he resolved to
follow it. They again began their painful march; the day passed,
and the night once more overtook them. When the eighth morning
dawned, the younger of the boys found himself unable to rise from
his bed of leaves. Isaac endeavored to encourage him, dug roots,
and procured water for him; but the poor lad was utterly exhausted.
He had no longer heart or hope. The elder boy laid h