ed to hold any communication with their
escort, dreading the treacherous nature of the savages; and when the
three Indians approached, Ethan promptly placed himself in a defensive
attitude. Though the escort continued to yell, they did not offer to
attack the voyagers. They stopped on the bank of the river, where the
bateau lay. One of them dismounted, and leaped into the boat. With his
scalping-knife he cut the bonds of Wahena, and taking the boy in his
arms, bounded to the shore again.

Ethan's heart sank within him, when he saw that the captive, upon whose
presence he had relied for the safety of the party, was wrested from
them. Rushing forward with his rifle, he took aim at Wahena,
disregarding the earnest remonstrances of Rattleshag.

"No shoot! no shoot!" exclaimed one of the savages--the one who had
before acted as Lean Bear's messenger. "No kill, no hurt."

"Don't fire," pleaded Fanny. "If you should kill Wahena, they would
butcher us all."

The Indian boy saw her as she stepped forward, and immediately began to
talk in the most earnest manner to the savage who held him.

"No hurt!" shouted the spokesman of the Indians. "You go--no kill; no
kill, no hurt."

Wahena, after struggling for some time with the brawny savage who held
him, escaped from his grasp, and, to the surprise of the voyagers,
rushed over to the spot where Fanny stood. Seizing her hand, he shook
it warmly, and then began a series of violent gesticulations, which
were at first unintelligible. He dropped on his knees, clasped his
hands, looked up to the sky, and then beat his breast. He pointed to
the boat, intimating by his signs that she was to go on board. She
obeyed, and was followed by Ethan and the trapper. The party stepped on
board, and to the astonishment of all, Wahena followed them, and took
the seat he had occupied during the voyage.

Ethan and Rattleshag pushed off, and when the bateau began to move down
the river, Wahena shouted to the Indians, and pointed down the river,
indicating that they were to follow, as they had done before. The
Indian boy's signs on shore were now interpreted to be an expression of
his gratitude to Fanny for her kindness to him, and a prayer to the
Great Spirit for her safety.

If the party in the boat were surprised at the singular conduct of
Wahena, the Indians on shore were still more astonished; but he spoke a
language which they could understand, and they sullenly resumed their
march down the