“I’m glad for to hear it, Oonomoo.  I shpose you’ll be back this way ag’in one dese days.”

“Be back soon—­have somebody with me—­tell gal so—­look out fur whistle—­keep ears open—­hear dis time.”

“Yaw, I will.  I heerd you dis oder time, too; but didn’t t’ink ’twas you.  I’ll know de next time.  You going now?”

The Huron signified that he was, and took his departure as quietly as he had come.  Hans watched as the dusky figure flitted in and out among the trees and finally disappeared in the distance.  Then, muttering to himself, he returned to the village.

The day was unusually warm for the season; there was little activity in the Indian town.  Hans noticed that many of the Shawnees were still lingering along the Miami, although what object other than that of mere languor could induce them to remain, he could not possibly conceive.  Reaching his own wigwam, he was confounded with joy to learn that the captive, Miss Prescott, was to be domiciled in it.  He could scarce believe it until Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock told him that she was to be strictly guarded, used as her slave and never to be out of her sight for one minute.  In case of her escape, Hans Vanderbum was to be held responsible for it, his life paying the forfeit.

“Dat is quare,” he muttered.  “I guess Oonomoo can fix it, if dey does do it.”

It perhaps is well to remark here, by way of explanation, that the time in which the incidents occurred, which we intend to relate, was a few years subsequent to the great victory of Anthony Wayne over the combined forces of the various Indian tribes in the West.  As a consequence of this splendid achievement and the no less splendid victory gained in the renowned treaty of Greenville, a long and almost undisturbed peace along the frontier was inaugurated, where, for years before, all had been strife of the most revolting kind.  But, profound peace and security never existed on the border until the final removal of the Indians beyond the Mississippi.  Isolated families, small bodies of men, and the lonely traveler through the forest, never were secure from the stealthy attacks of the red-men.  Deep in the gloom of the solemn wilderness, many a deadly conflict occurred between the hunter and the Indian.  Often the victim sunk noiselessly to the turf, and his bones bleached for years in these wilds, while none but his slayer knew of his fate.

Captain Prescott, placing great faith in the treaty of Greenville, had erected a fine mansion upon a tract of land received from Government.  His residence was upon the extreme frontier.  He had misgivings when he removed his wife and two daughters to that wilderness home.  He provided a number of trusty servants for their protection in his absence with the army.  Circumstances transpired which prevented his fulfilling his promise to return home to remain, and he continued absent nearly three years, occasionally making a short visit, and returning to his duties again before he had fairly greeted his family.