Coubitant—­for he was one of those whose patient vigilance had, at length, been crowned by success—­and his companion had hurried him at their greatest speed through the wood, to the spot where their temporary camp was pitched, and where several others of their tribe awaited their return.  A few minutes sufficed to remove the matting that formed their tents, and to collect their arms and utensils; but Coubitant well knew that the child who had escaped his cruelty would soon alarm the settlers, and that an instant pursuit would follow.  He therefore, devised plan to deceive, and, perhaps altogether to check the white men, at least for a time, by making them believe that the death of the captive had already taken place.  He would have instantly gratified the feelings of his cruel and revengeful heart, and have shed the innocent blood of Rodolph’s son to atone for the death of his friend, but that he feared to disappoint his Chief, who so earnestly desired to imbrue his own hands in the blood of the slayer.  He, therefore, resolved on the stratagem we have described.  He stripped off the captive’s tunic, and, after piercing it several times with his dagger, he opened a vein in his own arm with the same weapon, and let the hot blood flow freely over the torn vesture.

This done, he smiled a demon’s smile, as he cast the tunic on the ground, and thought with malignant pleasure of the anguish that its discovery would occasion to his hated foe.

Henrich gazed in trembling wonder at this act; and when Coubitant again approached him to bind his hands, he believed that he was about to plunge that blood-stained knife into his beating heart.  He was young, and life was new and precious to him; and for a moment he shrank back, while the blood curdled in his veins.  But, young as he was, he was also a child of God; and he knew that all events are governed by His Almighty power, and over-ruled by His wisdom and love.  So he was enabled to lift up his eyes and his trusting heart to heaven, and to await his expected fate with calmness.  Coubitant saw his firmness, and he wondered and admired.  He placed the dagger in his belt and hastily tying the captive’s hands behind his back, he motioned to his companions to follow, and struck into a narrow and almost undistinguishable path.

Forcing Henrich to go before him, while he held the rope of twisted grass that bound his hands he followed close behind, and placed his foot in each print that the prisoner made, so as to destroy the impression of the boy’s European shoe.  The other Indians did the same; as exactly did they tread in one another’s steps, that, when all had passed, it seemed as if only one solitary traveler had left his track on the soft ground.