and looked up.

"I say, Lew," said his brother, "I've asked yer half a dozen times,
whether there's any thing that need keep us here any longer?"

"The Huron--Oonamoo?" asked the hunter, looking around him.

"Was Oonamoo with you?--I recollect, now, Tom said he was. Well, that
must be him, then, stretched out yonder."

The two moved toward the prostrate form of the Indian, which lay upon
its face. They rolled him over on his back, but he was limp and
nerveless as a rag. His body was still warm, but to all appearance he
was entirely lifeless--a gash on the side of his face, from which a
great quantity of blood had streamed over his person, adding to the
ghastly appearance of the body.

"Poor fellow! he's dead," said Lewis, with a saddened feeling, as he
looked down upon him. "He was a faithful fellow, and had few equals.
I'm sorry he's dead."

"Oonamoo ain't dead," said the prostrate individual, opening his eyes,
and getting upon his feet with some difficulty. "Play 'possum--dat
all."

"You're a good one," said George Dernor, admiringly, as he supported
him. "You've had considerable of a hurt though, along side of your
noddle."

"Hit purty hard--hurt a _leetle_," said the Huron.

"We'll dress your wounds as soon as we reach the brook out in the
woods. What did you play 'possum for?"

"Fool Shawnee--fool Miami--t'ink dey cotch Lew and gal, den come and
git Oonamoo scalp. If t'ink he ain't dead, kill him; wait till get out
of sight, den run."

The meaning of which was, that the Huron, upon being felled to the
earth, concluded it best to feign death until his enemies were out of
sight, when he would have risen to his feet and fled. The wound he had
received was so severe, that he knew his flight would be difficult and
tardy, and he, therefore, avoided giving any signs of life as long as
he had reason to believe the savages were in the vicinity. Of course he
was perfectly conscious when the two Riflemen stood over him, and heard
their words. Understanding at once from these the changed condition of
affairs, he arose to his feet, as we have mentioned.

A few minutes later, the party was moving slowly through the wood. The
brothers Smith led the way; behind them came Sego and Edith far more
affectionate and loving than she and Dernor had ever been. The latter,
with his brother, and Allmat and Oonamoo, brought up the rear. In a few
minutes they reached the brook, where the party halted.

The stoical Huron had b