;
The hatchet's buried in the valley;
No foe profanes our hunting-ground!
The green leaves on the blithe boughs quiver,
The verdant hills with song-birds ring,
While our bark canoes, the river
Skim, like swallows on the wing.--G. P. MORRIS.

As the Riflemen reached the spot where the settlers were awaiting them,
the preparations for resuming the journey were instantly made. The dead
oxen were rolled to one side, and on the hardened ground the wagon was
easily dragged by the remaining yoke. The hunters and experienced men
of the party were certain that the Shawnees had fled, and that, for the
present at least, there was no further danger from them; but, in order
to quiet the fears of the women, a thorough examination of the
surrounding woods was made. This search resulted only in the discovery
of the dead bodies of the Indians. As the Riflemen never scalped a
savage, the bodies were left undisturbed.

"Where the deuce has Lew gone to?" demanded O'Hara, after several times
looking around him.

Those who were acquainted with the facts of the case looked in each
other's face, as if in doubt what to reply.

"Don't anybody know? eh? Say!" he repeated, in an angry voice.

"He's taken a near cut to the settlement," replied the elder Smith.

"_Anybody go with him?_"

"He took a female, believing that her safety demanded such a course."

"Lew never had more sense than he needed, and it's all gone now.
Cutting across through the woods with a gal," repeated O'Hara, in a
contemptuous tone. "Just as though she'd be safer with him than with
us. I hope the Shawnees will get on his trail and catch both."

"What do you want the gal caught for?" demanded Harry Smith, blustering
up.

"She'd no business to be such a fool as to go with him."

"I never allow any one to say any thing against her," added young
Smith, growing red in the face.

"If you want your head broke, just say so," said O'Hara, savagely.

"Come, come," interrupted the elder Smith, "boys should be careful not
to get mad. Shut up, each of you, or I'll whip both of you."

This ended the high words between the two parties, and five minutes
later they were conversing together on as friendly and good terms as it
can be possible between two mortals.

All things being in readiness, the party resumed their journey, using
the same caution that had characterized their march previous to the
attack of the Indians. The Riflemen themselv