mitting, and it need not be said that he looked well to the rear.

In a few minutes the pursuer and his unconscious fugitive were beyond
danger of discovery from the main party, and there was little fear of
Lone Bear escaping Deerfoot. He had his trail and was sure to run him
down.

The Pawnee scout followed an almost direct course for twenty rods, when
he stopped, and, standing erect, slowly turned his head and body, using
eyes, and ears for all they were worth. He seemed to be satisfied with
what he failed to discover, and advanced at a slower gait in the
direction of the river, displaying the same vigilance shown from the
first.

The distance between Lone Bear and his friends was great enough to suit
the purpose of Deerfoot, who now began to maneuver with a view of
getting near his man without the latter suspecting it. Great as were the
cunning and woodcraft of the Shawanoe, it is difficult to believe such
an exploit possible, in view of the watchfulness of the Pawnee. He was
scouting against his enemies, and to suppose he would permit one to
approach him unobserved is to declare him a stupid Indian--which he was
far from being.

But a guarded pursuit and study of his actions, made it clear what his
line of conduct was to be, and like the most successful of woodmen,
Deerfoot in adopting a certain policy anticipated the action of his
adversary.

The latter had not proceeded far in the direction of the river when he
again stopped, and, standing motionless, looked and listened, just as he
had done many a time when stealing through the country of an enemy, and
just as he did years before when fleeing for so many miles through the
wilderness to escape the Shawanoes.

For aught that he saw, the Pawnee might have been the only living person
within a thousand miles of the lonely spot. Looking aloft at the arching
trunks, the branching boughs, and the spread of the leafy roof, he saw
no sign of life, except a gray squirrel, which, running lightly along
the shaggy bark of a huge limb, whisked out of sight in the wealth of
vegetation beyond. Here and there patches of blue sky could be detected,
with the white flecks of clouds drifting past, but neither the ground
nor the trees nor the air showed aught else. Not even a bird, sailing
high overhead, flitted to sight, and the leaves below were rustled by no
step of bear or deer or smaller animal.

But such might be the case, with a score of red men prowling near at
hand. T