ered
away, he could see nothing of her.

"Stay there till I come," said he, "and be careful and not put your
head out, if you hear any noise."

"How shall I know whether it is you or not?"

"I'll be around as soon as it is dark enough, and will speak. Don't
forget what I said. Don't let any noise make you show yourself.
Good-by."

"Good-by;" and the hunter turned to attend to his own safety.

CHAPTER IX.

THE RIFLEMAN AND HURON ON THE TRAIL.

The woodcock, in his moist retreat,
Heard not the falling of their feet;
On his dark roost the gray owl slept,
Time, with his drum the partridge kept;
Nor left the deer his watering-place,
So hushed, so noiseless was their pace.

W. H. C. HOSMER.

On a fine summer day, the one succeeding that upon which occurred the
incident just related, one of the Riflemen of the Miami, was making his
way through the dense forests that at that period nearly covered the
entire portion of Ohio. His short stature, bowed legs, and round,
shining visage, showed unmistakably that he was Tom O'Hara. His rifle
was slung over his shoulder, and as he walked leisurely along, he had
that easy, saucy air which showed him to be totally unmindful of the
opinion of friend or foe. That he had no fears of disturbance was
manifest from the carelessness with which he proceeded, constantly
kicking the leaves before him, and when a limb brushed his face,
suddenly stopping and spitefully wrenching it off with an expression of
impatience. He was in a worse temper than usual, and incensed at
something that continually occupied his mind.

"What can have become of the fools?" he muttered. "He oughter been home
two, three days ago, and we hain't seen a sign of him yet. Can't be
Lew's such a dunce as to walk into the red-skins' hands. No, no, no."

He shook his head as if displeased, and for a time continued his
solitary journey in silence. The great question which he was debating
was regarding his leader's whereabouts, and his ill-temper arose
principally from the fact that he was unable to offer a solution
satisfactory to himself.

"Let me see," he added. "If Lew is took, why the gal's took, and if the
gal's took, Lew must be too; so that p'int is settled. It _might_ be
some of the Injins _have_ got him, but somehow or other I can't believe
it. Don't look reasonable, although Dick 'peared to think so."

Again he bent his head as i