CHAPTER VI.

ADVENTURES ON THE WAY.

  The paths which wound ’mid gorgeous trees,
    The streams whose bright lips kissed the flowers,
  The winds that swelled their harmonies,
    Through these sun-hiding bowers,
  The temple vast, the green arcade,
  The nestling vale, the grassy glade,
    Dark cave and swampy lair;
  These scenes and sounds majestic, made
    His world, his pleasures, there.—­A.  B. STREET.

“You have saved our lives,” exclaimed Lieutenant Canfield, as the dusky form of the Huron appeared beside him.

“Ain’t hurt, eh? den we go,” said he, not noticing the remark.

“No, neither of us is hurt.”

“I beliebes a bullet struck me aside de head,” said Cato, removing his cap, and scratching his black poll.

“A bullet struck you?” repeated the Lieutenant, in astonishment.  “Where did it hit you?”

“When dat gun went off, sunkin’ struck me slap right above my ear, and I fought I felt it flatten dar.”

“Fudge! you are not hurt.  But I say, Oonomoo,” resumed the soldier, with a more determined air, “you have saved me, and I want to grasp your hand for it.”

[Illustration:  “You have saved me, and I want to grasp your hand for it.”]

The Huron extended his hand, but it hung limp in that of the ardent young man.  It was easy to see that the iterated thanks were distasteful to him.  He said nothing until the jubilant Cato also made a spring at it as soon as it was released.

“Nebber mind—­nottin’—­Oonomoo do nottin’.”

“Hebens, golly! yes, you did.  If you hadn’t come jes’ as you did, I’d had to fout de Injines all alone, single-handed, widout any feller to help me, and, like as not, would’ve got hurt.”

“Can’t hurt Cato’s head—­hard,” said the Huron, dropping his hand upon the superabundant wool of the negro, and allowing it to bound up as if an elastic cushion were beneath it.  “Make nice scalp—­Shawnee like it,” added the Indian, still toying with it.

“De Lord bless me!  I hopes he nebber will get it, and he nebber will if I can hender dem.”

It was now quite dark, and, to the surprise of the Lieutenant, a round, full, bright moon appeared above the forest.  The preceding night had been without a moon to light up the cloudy heavens; but there was scarcely a cloud visible now in the sky.  Here and there a small fleck floated overhead, like a handful of snow cast there by some giant, while not a breath of wind disturbed the tree-tops.  All was silent and gloomy as the tomb.

“When are we to go to the Shawnee village?” asked the Lieutenant.

“Now!” replied the Huron.

“Then why do you linger?”

“Cato go with us?”

“That is just as you say, Oonomoo.  If you think it imprudent to take him along, he must remain behind.”