went very slowly, not wishing
to make the faintest splash, and meanwhile the darkness thickened and
deepened again. It felt very damp to the face, and Paul saw now that fog
from the rain of the day was mingled with it. They could not see the
faintest outline of the island, but held their course from memory.

They had been out about ten minutes when Ross and Sol, as if by
simultaneous impulse, ceased paddling, and Henry whispered; "Don't anybody
make any noise; it's for our lives!"

They heard that faint splash, which Paul had learned to hate, coming back.
The Miami navy, from some unknown cause, had turned in its course. How
Paul blessed the thick, fog-charged darkness!

"It's all chance now," whispered Henry, ever so low, and Paul understood.

Then they held their breath, and the Miami canoes steadily drew nearer.
Would they come directly upon the white canoe or would they pass? They
passed, but they passed so near that Paul could hear the Indians in the
boats talking to each other. He also heard his heart beating in his body
as the invisible file went by, and the loud beat did not cease until no
more splashing of the paddles was heard.

"Is all my hair gray?" whispered Shif'less Sol.

Paul wanted to laugh in a kind of nervous relief, but he did not dare.
Instead he whispered back:

"I can't see, Sol, but I'm sure mine is."

Ross and Shif'less Sol took up the paddles again, and now they reached the
island without interruption. The boat was hidden again, and soon all were
in the hut in the sheltered cove. Henry spoke with approval of the
industry and forethought of Paul and Jim in their absence.

"This hut is a mighty good place on a raw night like this," he said. "Now,
I'm going to sleep, and I'd advise you to do the same, Paul. I'll tell you
to-morrow all that we've done and have seen and know."

While the others slept, Jim Hart, long-legged and captious, but brave,
faithful, and enduring, watched. He saw the fog and the darkness clear
away, and the moonlight came out, crisp and cold. A light wind blew and
dead leaves fell from the trees, rustling dryly as they fell. Autumn was
waning and cold weather would soon be at hand. When pale dawn showed, Jim
roused his comrades, and they ate breakfast, though no fire was lighted.
Then Henry talked.

"It's true," he said, "about a great league of all the tribes being formed
to destroy forever the white settlements in Kentucky. They are alarmed
about their hunting g