After an hour’s paddling they stopped longer than usual.

“What is it?” James whispered in Jonathan’s ear, for Nat had taken the bow paddle.

“There are men ahead,” the scout whispered back.  “We heard them speak just now.”

Presently the boat began to move again, but so quietly, that it was only by looking at the dark masses of the boughs, that stretched out overhead, that James knew the boat was in motion.  Jonathan now crouched in the bottom of the boat, and placed his hand on Nat’s shoulder as a sign for him to do the same.  The time seemed endless to James, as he lay there.  It was too dark, under the trees, for him even to see the outline of Nat’s figure.  The boat was, he was sure, moving; for occasionally, as he lay on his back, it grew lighter overhead, as they passed under openings in the trees.

Suddenly his heart gave a bound, and he nearly started, for a guttural voice spoke, seemingly within a few feet of the canoe.  He placed his hand on his rifle, in readiness to sit up and fire, but all was still again.  It was a passing remark, made by one redskin to another; in a canoe, for the sound was to his right.  Another long period passed, and then Jonathan sat up and took to his paddle again, and James judged that the danger was over.

Raising his head, he could see nothing except the vague light of the sheet of water on his right.  The boat was still keeping close under the trees, on the left shore of the lake, and he lay back again, and dozed off to sleep.  He was awoke by Jonathan touching his foot.

“You can take your paddle now, captain.”

He sat up at once, and looked round.  They were far out now, on a broad sheet of water.  There were some faint lights, as of fires burning low, high up to the left behind them; and he knew that they had already passed Ticonderoga, and were making their way along Lake Champlain.  They paddled for some hours, and then landed on the right-hand side of the lake.

“We are not likely to be disturbed here,” Nat said, as they lifted the canoe from the water.  “The Indians, coming down from Crown Point, would keep on the other side of the lake.  They will all make for Ticonderoga, and will not think of keeping a lookout for anyone, as far down the lakes as this.”

“That was a close shave with that canoe, Nat.  It startled me, when I heard the voice close to us.  They must have been within ten yards of us.”

“About that,” Nat said.  “It was lucky they spoke when we were coming along.  I expect they had been watching for some nights, and hadn’t much idea anyone would come, or else they wouldn’t have spoken.  As it was, it was easy enough to pass them, on such a dark night.  Of course, they were looking outside, and I just kept along as close as I could to the bushes, only just giving a light stroke, now and then, to take her along.  Being inside them, I got a sight of ’em some distance away, but I knew they couldn’t see us, sharp as their eyes are.  The only chance was their hearing, and, as there was no noise for them to hear, I felt safe enough after I had once caught sight of ’em, and saw they were lying out at the edge of the shadow.