Chapter 4

           "Well,gothyway:thoushaltnotfromthisgrove

           TillItormenttheeforthisinjury."

           MidsummerNight’sDream.

           Thewordswerestillinthemouthofthescout,whentheleaderoftheparty,whoseapproachingfootstepshadcaughtthevigilantearoftheIndian,cameopenlyintoview.Abeatenpath,suchasthosemadebytheperiodicalpassageofthedeer,woundthroughalittleglenatnogreatdistance,andstrucktheriveratthepointwherethewhitemanandhisredcompanionshadpostedthemselves.Alongthistrackthetravellers,whohadproducedasurprisesounusualinthedepthsoftheforest,advancedslowlytowardsthehunter,whowasinfrontofhisassociates,inreadinesstoreceivethem.

           "Whocomes?"demandedthescout,throwinghisriflecarelesslyacrosshisleftarm,andkeepingtheforefingerofhisrighthandonthetrigger,thoughheavoidedallappearanceofmenaceintheact,"Whocomeshither,amongthebeastsanddangersofthewilderness?"

           "Believersinreligion,andfriendstothelawandtotheking,"returnedhewhorodeforemost."Menwhohavejourneyedsincetherisingsun,intheshadesofthisforest,withoutnourishment,andaresadlytiredoftheirwayfaring."

           "Youare,then,lost,"interruptedthehunter,"andhavefoundhowhelpless’tisnottoknowwhethertotaketherighthandortheleft?"

           "Evenso;suckingbabesarenotmoredependentonthosewhoguidethemthanwewhoareoflargergrowth,andwhomaynowbesaidtopossessthestaturewithouttheknowledgeofmen.