d it appear from around a bushy
point. The savages headed directly toward the boys, without a sound.

The lads laid down their rifles as a sign of friendliness, and in another
minute a swift stroke of a paddle grounded the Indians' craft upon the
beach. The Redskins bounded ashore and with some reluctance shook hands
with the boys.

Without loss of time Ree gave them to understand that he wished them to
inform their chief, Hopocon, or Capt. Pipe, that two young Palefaces were
waiting to call on him, and tell of their friendly wish to buy some land
of the Delawares, and that they would remain where they were while he
should send a canoe to carry them over.

None of the three Indians had been in the party of the previous day, but
they seemed readily to comprehend what was desired of them and turned to
go.

One of the Redskins, quite a young fellow, lingered behind. After the
other two had taken their places in the canoe he pushed it out into deep
water, then he made a running jump to leap, aboard. He might have done so
very nicely, had he not slipped just as he jumped. As it was, he went
sprawling in the water most ridiculously.

The other Indians grunted derisively. John laughed heartily and Ree
smiled, amused to see the proud young buck get just such a ducking as he
deserved for trying to "show off."

However, the lithe young fellow seized the canoe and was safely in it in
a very brief space of time. Soon it was far out on the lake, rocking and
dancing lightly as a feather on the fierce little waves, which a strong
wind was blowing up.

Ree and John made themselves comfortable on the grassy bank beside the
water, and waited. It seemed a long time until they saw a canoe coming
for them. The fact was, and the boys shrewdly surmised it, that Capt.
Pipe, or Hopocon, desirous of impressing the strangers with his
greatness, purposely kept them waiting awhile.

The canoe sent for the boys was manned by two of the Indians they first
met, and the lads were taken aboard. Although frail in appearance, the
light little craft was capable of carrying seven or eight persons. It was
made of the bark of a bitter-nut hickory, and was the first of the kind
in which the Connecticut lads had ever ridden. They quickly found that
they must aid in keeping the canoe balanced to prevent its upsetting, and
their efforts to do this, before they caught the knack of it, rather
amused the Indians.

In a short time, however, the canoe touch