robe, was again
quickly asleep.

I sometimes walked up and down, my rifle in my hand; sometimes leaned
against a tree, peering in every direction. It could not then have
wanted more than a couple of hours to dawn. The only sounds which
reached my ear were those from our animals as they cropped the rich
grass, or the occasional scream of some night-bird in the forest. The
moon, too, was nearly at its full, and I was thus enabled to see objects
at a distance distinctly. I could judge pretty well of the hour by the
appearance of the fire, on which, from time to time, I threw a few
sticks to keep up the blaze.

I was leaning against a tree, beginning to feel somewhat sleepy, and
thinking that it would soon be time to call the lieutenant, when a sound
as of something moving in the forest behind me struck on my ear. I
remained perfectly motionless, and again I heard the sound. "It may be a
bear," was my first thought; "but then, a bear moving among the bushes
would make more noise than that. It must be some human being; perhaps an
Indian, who is watching an opportunity to shoot us down."

I kept completely in the shade, while I turned my eyes in the direction
from whence the sound came. I thus hoped, should there be an enemy near,
to get sight of him before he could discover me.

On arousing the lieutenant, I told him of the sounds I had heard.

"If there are Indians near, we had better at once go in search of them,"
he answered. "I have no fancy to be shot down, as you suppose it likely
we may be; and as it will not do to leave our horses, I propose that we
mount them, and try and push through the forest. The moonlight will
enable us to make our way without difficulty."

I should have preferred going on foot, but, of course, there was a risk,
as the lieutenant had observed, of our horses being carried off. I
therefore thought it wisest to agree to his proposal.

Our animals were quickly saddled, and we at once pushed into the forest.
After we had passed through the outer belt, the trees grew wide apart,
and as we soon came to several broad glades, we had no difficulty in
making our way.

We had gone some distance, when suddenly my horse gave a start, and I
caught sight of a figure, partly concealed by a tree, right ahead of me;
but as I saw neither bow nor rifle-barrel, I had no fear of encountering
an enemy.

[Illustration: OUR MEETING WITH MAYSOTTA.]

"Who is there?" I asked. "Come forth and show yourself. We