’I see the cloud you speak of, Oriana; and I have been watching it with some anxiety for several minutes.  It cannot be what you suggest, for you know your father received a message from the trusty Salon—­next in command to Coubitant—­to tell him that their leader not having joined the party as he promised, a search had been made, and his mangled body found at the foot of the rock, where, it was supposed, he must have fallen in attempting the sleep descent.  Salon’s messenger further stated that, having buried the corpse where it lay, he had led the people on, and should pursue the path pointed out by Coubitant, and hasten to prepare the necessary huts for our reception.  I dispatched the messenger again with further directions to Salon; and ere this, no doubt, the encampment is formed on the shores of the great river to which we are journeying.  ‘Father,’ he added, as he turned towards Tisquantum, ’your eye is dim, but your sagacity is as keen as ever.  Can you discern that rising smoke, and tell us its cause?’

The aged Sachem had been riding silently and abstractedly along.  The tall dry grass—­now ripe, and shedding its seeds on every side—­rose frequently above his head; for he was mounted on a low strong horse, and he had not observed the cloud that had attracted the attention of the younger travelers.  He now paused, and looked earnestly to the south, in which direction the smoke appeared right before the advancing party, and from whence a strong and sultry wind was blowing.  As the prairie grass rose and fell in undulating waves, the old man obtained a distinct view of the smoke, which now seemed to have spread considerably to the right and left, and also to be approaching towards the travelers.

The narrow, zigzag track of the deer and the buffaloes was the only beaten path through the prairie; and this could only be traveled by two or three horsemen abreast.  The old Sachem, and Henrich, and Oriana, led the party; and Jyanough, and Mailah, and young Lincoya, all well mounted, rode immediately in the rear.  The attendants of the two families, and a few experienced warriors, some on foot and some on horseback, followed in the winding path.

On the halt of the foremost rank, the rest rode up, and were immediately made aware of the ominous signs which hitherto they had not noticed.  Instantly terror was depicted in every countenance; and the deep low voice of Tisquantum sank into every heart, as he exclaimed, ‘The prairie is on fire!’

‘Turn!’ cried Henrich, ’and fly!  Let each horseman take one of those on foot behind, and fly for your lives.  Cast the baggage on the ground—­ stay for nothing, but our people’s lives.’

He was obeyed:  men and women were all mounted; and Henrich snatched his boy from the arms of the woman who carried him, and, giving the child to Oriana, took up the terrified attendant on his own powerful steed.

The wind rose higher:  and now the roar of the pursuing flames came fearfully on the fugitives, growing louder and louder, while volumes of dense smoke were driven over their heads, and darkened the sky that had so lately shone in all its summer brightness.