."

After a long parley, the advice of Malachi was considered the most
judicious, and a further conversation with the Indian woman confirmed
them in their resolution. As they had no fear of the Indians discovering
that they were on their trail, Martin and Alfred went out in pursuit of
game for provisions, while the others raised up a large hut with
branches of trees, for the accommodation of the whole party. In the
evening Martin and Alfred returned, carrying a fine buck between them.
The fire was lighted, and very soon all were busy cooking and eating.
The Indian woman also begged for something to eat, and her recovery was
now no longer considered doubtful.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

It was a great annoyance to Captain Sinclair to have to wait in this
manner, but there was no help for it. He was satisfied that it was the
most prudent course, and therefore raised no objection. Alfred too was
uneasy at the delay, as he was aware how anxious his father and mother
would be during the whole time of their absence. They were glad,
however, to find that the Indian woman recovered rapidly, and on the
fifth day of their taking up their abode in the forest, she said that
she was able to travel if they walked slow. It was therefore agreed that
on the sixth day they should start again, and they did so, having saved
their salt provisions, that they might not be compelled to stop, or use
their rifles to procure food. The evening before, they roasted as much
venison as they thought they could consume while it was good, and at
daylight again proceeded, not to follow the trail, but guided by the
Indian woman, in a direct course for the lodges of the Indian band under
the Angry Snake.

As they had now only to proceed as fast as they could without tiring
the poor Indian woman, whose head was bound up, and who was still weak
from loss of blood, they made a tolerable day's journey, and halted as
before. Thus they continued their route till the sixth day, when as they
drew up for the night, the Indian stated that they were only three or
four miles from the Indians' lodges, which they sought. Thereupon a
council was held as to how they should proceed, and at last it was
agreed upon that they should be guided by the Indian woman to a spot
where they might be concealed, as near as possible to the lodges, and
that when the party had arrived there, that the woman and Malachi should
go and reconnoiter, to ascertain whether the chief and his ba