rrent had
pulled its fastenings loose. In any event, the fugitive was gone and his
pathway was invisible, like that of a bird in the air. He looked up once
more at the cold, blue sky, the brilliant full moon, and the hosts of
shining stars. Cold the sky might be to others, but it was not so to
him. It bent over him like a protecting blue veil, shot with the silver
glow of moon and stars.

The thicket into which he had pushed his canoe was of weeds, reeds and
willows, and very dense. The keenest eyes might search its very edge and
fail to see the fugitive within. There was no view except overhead, and
Henry resolved to remain there the whole of the next day. If the
warriors came pursuing on the river he would be once again the needle in
the haystack, and even if by some chance they should spy him out, he
could escape, refreshed and invigorated, to the land.

Assured of his present safety, he spread his bed in the canoe, a
somewhat difficult task, as everything had to be adjusted with nicety,
but the close wall of reeds and bushes helped him to keep the balance,
and at last he lay on the bottom with the Indian's blanket under him and
his own and the painted robe above him. Then he went to sleep and did
not awaken until the next day was hours old.

A bright sun was shining through the bushes over his head, but he was
glad that his body had been protected by an abundance of covers. The
painted robe was white with frost, which even the hours of day had not
yet melted, and near the edges there was a thin skin of ice on the
river. His breath made little clouds of vapor in the cold morning. He
was so warm and snug under the blankets that he felt the usual aversion
in such cases to rising, and turning gently on his side, lest he tilt
the canoe, he closed his eyes for that aftermath of sleep, a final and
pleasant doze.

When he opened his eyes again he contemplated the sun through the veil
of bushes and reeds. It was great and red, but it had a chilly effect,
and he knew the day was quite cold. The willows began to shake and
quiver and the wind that stirred them was nipping. He did not care. Cold
stimulated him, and, making ready for new endeavors, he dipped for his
breakfast into the captured stores.

Then he took note of the river, upon the surface of which much life was
already passing. He saw a flock of wild ducks swimming strong and true
against the current, and when they were gone a swarm of wild geese came
with many