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I shall never forget the journey of that fearful night.
Susquesus paddled the canoe, unaided by us, who were too
much fatigued with the toil of the day, to labour much, as
soon as we found ourselves in a place of safety. Even Jaap
lay down and slept for several hours, the sleep of the weary.
I do not think any of us, however, actually slept for the
first hour or two, the scenes through which we had just
passed, and that, indeed, through which we were then passing,
acting as preventives to such an indulgence.

It must have been about nine in the evening, when our
canoe quitted the ill-fated shore at the south end of Lake
George, moving steadily and silently along the eastern margin
of the sheet. By that time, fully five hundred boats had
departed for the head of the lake, the retreat having commenced
long before sunset. No order was observed in this
melancholy procession, each batteau moving off as her load
was completed. All the wounded were on the placid bosom
of the `Holy Lake,' as some writers have termed this sheet
of limpid water, by the time we ourselves got in motion;
and the sounds of parting boats told us that the unhurt were
following as fast as circumstances would allow.

What a night it was! There was no moon, and a veil
of dark vapour was drawn across the vault of the heavens,
concealing most of the mild summer stars, that ought to
have been seen twinkling in their Creator's praise. Down,
between the boundaries of hills, there was not a breath of
air, though we occasionally heard the sighings of light currents
among the tree-tops, above us. The eastern shore
having fewer sinuosities than the western, most of the boats
followed its dark, frowning mass, as the nearest route, and
we soon found ourselves near the line of the retiring batteaux.

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I call it the line, for though there was no order observed,
each party making the best of its way to the common point
of destination, there were so many boats in motion at the
same time, that, far as the eye could penetrate by that
gloomy light, an unbroken succession of them was visible.
Our motion was faster than that of these heavily-laden and
feebly-rowed batteaux, the soldiers being too much fatigued
to toil at the oars, after the day they had just gone through.
We consequently passed nearly everything, and soon got on
a parallel course with that of the boats, moving along at a
few rods in-shore of them. Dirck remarked, however, that
two or three small craft even passed us. They went so
near the mountain, quite within its shadows, in fact, as to
render it difficult to say what they were; though it was
supposed they might be whale-boats, of which there were
more than a hundred in the flotilla, carrying officers of
rank.

No one spoke. It appeared to me that not a human
voice was raised among those humiliated and defeated thousands.
The plash of oars, so long as we were at a distance
from the line, alone broke the silence of night; but that was
incessant. As our canoe drew ahead, however, an hour or
two after we had left the shore, and we overtook the boats
that had first started, the moaning and groans of the wounded
became blended with the monotonous sounds of the oars. In
two respects, these unfortunate men had reason to felicitate
themselves, notwithstanding their sufferings. No army
could have transported its wounded with less pain to the
hurt; and the feverish thirst that loss of blood always induces,
might be assuaged by the limpid element on which
we all floated.

After paddling for hours, Susquesus was relieved by Jaap,
Dirck, Guert and myself occasionally lending our aid.
Each had a paddle, and each used it as he saw fit, while the
Onondago slept. Occasionally I caught a nap, myself, as
did my companions; and we all felt refreshed by the rest
and sleep. At length we reached the narrow pass, that
separated the Upper from the Lower Lake, and we entered
the former. This is near the place where the islands are
so numerous, and we were unavoidably made to pass quite
close to some of the batteaux. I say to some, for the line

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became broken at this point, each boat going through the
openings it found the most convenient.

“Come nearer with that bark canoe,” called out an officer,
from a batteau; “I wish to learn who is in it.”

“We are volunteers, that joined the —th, the day the
army moved up, and were guests of Major Bulstrode. Pray
sir, can you tell us where that officer can be found?”

“Poor Bulstrode! He got a very awkward hit, early in
the day, and was taken past me to the rear. He will be
able neither to walk nor to ride, for some months, if they
save his leg. I heard the Commander-In-Chief order him
to be sent across the lake, in the first boat with wounded;
and some one told me, Bulstrode, himself, expressed an intention
to be carried some distance, to a friend's house, to
escape from the abominations of an army hospital. The
fellow has horses enough to transport him, on a horse-litter,
to Cape Horn, if he wishes it. I 'll warrant you, Bulstrode
works his way into good quarters, if they are to be had in
America. I suppose this arm of mine will have to come off,
as soon as we reach Fort William Henry; and, that job
done, I confess I should like amazingly to keep him company.
Proceed, gentlemen; I hope I have not detained
you; but, observing a bark canoe, I thought it my duty to
ascertain we were not followed by spies.”

This, then, was another victim of war! He spoke of the
loss of his arm, notwithstanding, with as much coolness as
if it were the loss of a tooth; yet, I question not, that in
secret, he mourned over the calamity in bitterness of heart.
Men never wear the mask more completely than when
excited and stimulated by the rivalry of arms. Bulstrode,
too, at Ravensnest! He could be carried nowhere else, so
easily; and, should his wound be of a nature that did not
require constant medical treatment, where could he be so
happily bestowed as under the roof of Herman Mordaunt?
Shall I confess that the idea gave me great pain, and that
I was fool enough to wish I, too, could return to Anneke,
and appeal to her sympathies, by dragging with me a
wounded limb!

Our canoe now passed quite near another batteau, the
officer in command of which was standing erect, seemingly
watching our movements. He appeared to be unhurt, but

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was probably intrusted with some special duty. As we
paddled by, the following curious conversation occurred.

“You move rapidly to the rear, my friends,” observed
the stranger; “pray moderate your zeal; others are in
advance of you with the evil tidings!”

“You must think ill of our patriotism and loyalty, sir, to
imagine we are hastening on with the intelligence of a check
to the British arms,” I answered as drily, and almost as
equivocally, in manner, as the other had spoken.

“The check!—I beg a thousand pardons—I see you are
patriots, and of the purest water! Check is just the word;
though check-mate would be more descriptive and significant!
A charming time we've had of it, gentlemen! What
say you?—it is your move, now.”

“There has been much firmness and gallantry manifested
by the troops,” I answered, “as we, who have been merely
volunteers, will always be ready to testify.”

“I beg your pardons, again and again,” returned the
officer, raising his hat and bowing profoundly—“I did not
know I had the honour to address volunteers. You are
entitled to superlative respect, gentlemen, having come voluntarily
into such a field. For my part, I find the honour
oppressive, having no such supererogatory virtue to boast
of. Volunteers! On my word, gentlemen, you will have
many wonders to relate, when you get back into the family
circle.”

“We shall have to speak of the gallantry of the Highlanders,
for we saw all they did and all they suffered.”

“Ah! Were you, then, near that brave corps!” exclaimed
the other, with something like honest, natural feeling,
for the first time exhibited in his voice and meaning;
“I honour men who were only spectators of so much courage,
especially if they took a tolerably near view of it.
May I venture to ask your names, gentlemen.”

I answered, giving him our names, and mentioning the
fact that we had been the guest of Bulstrode, and how much
we were disappointed in having missed not only our friend,
but his corps.

“Gentlemen, I honour courage, let it come whence it
may,” said the stranger, with strong feeling, and no acting,
“and most admire it when I see it exhibited by natives of

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these colonies, in a quarrel of their own. I have heard of
you as being with poor Howe, when he fell, and hope to
know more of you. As for Mr. Bulstrode, he has passed
southward, now some hours, and intends to make his cure
among some connections that he has in this province. Do
not let this be the last of our intercourse, I beg of you; but
look up Capt. Charles Lee, of the —th, who will be glad
to take each and all of you by the hand, when we once more
get into camp.”

We expressed our thanks, but Susquesus causing the
canoe to make a sudden inclination towards the shore, the
conversation was suddenly interrupted.

By this time the Indian was awake, and exercising his
authority in the canoe, again. Gliding among the islands,
he shortly landed us at the precise point where we had embarked
only five days before. Securing his little bark, the
Onondago led the way up the ravine, and brought us out on
the naked cap of the mountain, where we had before slept,
after an hour of extreme effort.

If the night had been so memorable, the picture presented
at the dawn of day, was not less so! We reached that lofty
look-out about the same time in the morning as the Indian
had awakened me on the previous occasion, and had the same
natural outlines to the view. In one sense, also, the artificial
accessaries were the same, though exhibited under a
very different aspect. I presume the truth will not be much,
if any exceeded, when I say that a thousand boats were in
sight, on this, as on the former occasion! A few, a dozen
or so, at most, appeared to have reached the head of the
lake; but all the rest of that vast flotilla was scattered along
the placid surface of the lovely sheet, forming a long, straggling
line of dark spots, that extended to the beach under
Fort William Henry, in one direction, and far as eye could
reach in the other. How different did that melancholy,
broken procession of boats appear, from the gallant array,
the martial bands, the cheerful troops, and the multitude of
ardent young men who had pressed forward, in brigades,
less than a week before, filled with hope, and exulting in
their strength! As I gazed on the picture, I could not but
fancy to myself the vast amount of physical pain, the keen
mental suffering, and the deep mortification that might have

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been found, amid that horde of returning adventurers. We
had just come up from the level of this scene of human
agony, and our imaginations could portray details that were
beyond the reach of the senses, at the elevation on which we
stood.

A week before, and the name of Abercrombie filled every
mouth in America; expectation had almost placed his renown
on that giddy height, where performance itself is so
often insecure. In the brief interval, he was destroyed.
Those who had been ready to bless him, would now heap
curses on his devoted head, and none would be so bold as
to urge aught in his favour. Men in masses, when goaded
by disappointment, are never just. It is, indeed, a hard
lesson for the individual to acquire; but, released from his
close, personal responsibility, the single man follows the
crowd, and soothes his own mortification and wounded pride
by joining in the cry that is to immolate a victim. Yet
Abercrombie was not the foolhardy and besotted bully that
Braddock had proved himself to be. His misfortune was to
be ignorant of the warfare of the region in which he was
required to serve, and possibly to over-estimate the imaginary
invincible character of the veterans he led. In a very
short time he was recalled, and America heard no more of
him. As some relief to the disgrace that had anew alighted
on the British arms, Bradstreet, a soldier who knew the
country, and who placed much reliance on the young man
of her name and family whom I had met at Madam Schuyler's,
marched against Frontenac, in Canada, at the head of
a strong body of provincials; an enterprise that, as it was
conducted with skill, resulted in a triumph.

But with all this my narrative has no proper connection.
No sooner did we reach the bald mountain-top, than the
Onondago directed Jaap to light a fire, while he produced,
from a deposit left on the advance, certain of the materials
that were necessary to a meal. As neither of us had tasted
food since the morning of the previous day, this repast was
welcome, and we all partook of it like so many famished
men. The negro got his share, of course, and then we
called a council as to future proceedings.

“The question is, whether we ought to make a straight
path to Ravensnest,” observed Guert, “or proceed first to

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the surveyor's, and see how things are going on in that direction.”

“As there can be no great danger of a pursuit on the part
of the French, since all their boats are in the other lake,” I
remarked, “the state of the country is very much what it
was before the army moved.”

“Ask that question of the Indian,” put in Dirck, a little
significantly.

We looked at Susquesus inquiringly, for a look always
sufficed to let him comprehend us, when a tolerably plain
allusion had been previously made.

“Black-man do foolish t'ing,” observed the Onondago.

“What I do, you red-skin devil?” demanded Jaap, who
felt a sort of natural antipathy to all Indians, good or bad,
excellent or indifferent; a feeling that the Indians repaid to
his race by contempt indifferently concealed. “What I do,
red-devil, ha?—dat you dares tell Masser Corny dat!”

Susquesus manifested no resentment at this strong and
somewhat rude appeal; but sat as motionless as if he had
not heard it. This vexed Jaap so much the more; and, my
fellow being exceedingly pugnacious on all occasions that
touched his pride, there might have been immediate war
between the two, had I not raised a finger, at once effectually
stilling the outbreak of Jacob Satanstoe's wrath.

“You should not bring such a charge against my slave,
Onondago,” I said, “unless able to prove it.”

“He beat red warrior like dog.”

“What of dat!” growled Jaap, who was only half-quieted
by my sign. “Who ebber hear it hurt red-skin to rope-end
him?”

“Warrior back like squaw's. Blow hurt him. He never
forget.”

“Well, let him remember den,” grinned the negro, showing
his ivory teeth from ear to ear. “Muss was my prisoner;
and what good he do me, if he let go widout punishment.
I wish you tell Masser Corny dat, instead of tellin'
him nonsense. When he flog me, who ebber hear me
grumble?”

“You have not had half enough of it, Jaap, or your
manners would be better,” I thought it necessary to put in,
for the fellow had never before manifested so quarrelsome a

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disposition in my presence; most probably because I had
never before seen him at variance with an Indian. “Let
me hear no more of this, or I shall be obliged to pay off the
arrears on the spot.”

“A little hiding does a nigger good, sometimes,” observed
Guert, significantly.

I observed that Dirck, who loved my very slave principally
because he was mine, looked at the offender reprovingly;
and by these combined demonstrations, we succeeded
in curbing the fellow's tongue.

“Well, Susquesus,” I added, “we all listen, to hear what
you mean.

“Musquerusque chief — Huron chief — got very tender
back; never forget rope.”

“You mean us to understand that my black's prisoner
will be apt to make some attempt to revenge himself for the
flogging he got from his captor?”

“Just so. Indian good memory—no forget friend—no
forget enemy.”

“But your Huron will be puzzled to find us, Onondago.
He will suppose us with the army; and, should he even
venture to look for us there, you see he will be disappointed.”

“Never know. Wook full of paths — Injin full of cunning.
Why talk of Ravensnest?”

“Was the name of Ravensnest mentioned in the presence
of that Huron?” I asked, more uneasy than such a trifle
would probably have justified me in confessing.

“Ay, something was said about it, but not in a way the
fellow could understand,” answered Guert, carelessly. “Let
him come on, if he has not had enough of us yet.”

This was not my manner of viewing the matter, however;
for the mentioning of Ravensnest brought Anneke to my
mind, surrounded by the horrors of an Indian's revenge.

“I will send you back to the Huron, Susquesus,” I added,
“if you can name to me the price that will purchase his forgiveness.”

The Onondago looked at me meaningly a moment; then,
bending forward, he passed the fore-finger of his hand
around the head of Jaap, along the line that is commonly
made by the knife of the warrior, as he cuts away the trophy

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of success from his victim. Jaap comprehended the meaning
of this very significant gesture, as well as any of us,
and the manner in which he clutched the wool, as if to keep
the scalp in its place, set us all laughing. The negro did
not partake of our mirth; but I saw that he regarded the
Indian, much as the bull-dog shows his teeth, before he
makes his spring. Another motion of my finger, however,
quelled the rising. It was necessary to put an end to this,
and Jaap was ordered to prepare our packs, in readiness for
the expected march. Relieved from his presence, Susquesus
was asked to be more explicit.

“You know Injin,” the Onondago answered. “Now he
t'ink red-coats driv' away and skeared, he go look for scalp.
Love all sort scalp—old scalp, young scalp—man scalp,
woman scalp — boy scalp, gal scalp — all get pay, all get
honour. No difference to him.”

“Ay!” exclaimed Guert, with a strong aspiration, such
as escapes a man who feels strongly; “he is a devil incarnate,
when he once gets fairly on the scent of blood! So
you expect these French Injins will make an excursion in
among the settlers, out here to the south-east of us?”

“Go to nearest—don't care where he be. Nearest your
friend; won't like that, s'pose?”

“You are right enough, Onondago, in saying that. I
shall not like it, nor will my companions, here, like it; and
the first thing you will have to do, will be to guide us,
straight as the bird flies, to the Ravensnest; the picketed
house, you know, where we have left our sweethearts.”

Susquesus understood all that was said, without any difficulty;
in proof of which, he smiled at this allusion to the
precious character of the inmates of the house Guert told
him to seek.

“Squaw pretty 'nough,” he answered, complacently.
“No wonder young man like him. But, can't go there,
now. First find friends measure land. All Injin land,
once!”

This last remark was made in a way I did not like; for
the idea seemed to cross the Onondago's brain so suddenly,
as to draw from him this brief assertion in pure bitterness
of spirit.

“I should be very sorry if it had not been, Susquesus,”

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I observed, myself, “since the title is all the better for its
having been so, as our Indian deed will show. You know,
of course, that my father, and his friend, Col. Follock,
bought this land of the Mohawks, and paid them their own
price for it.”

“Red-man nebber measure land so. He p'int with finger,
break bush down, and say, `there, take from that water to
that water.”'

“All very true, my friend; but, as that sort of measurement
will not answer to keep farms separate, we are obliged
to survey the whole off into lots of smaller size. The Mohawks
first gave my father and his friend, as much land as
they could walk round in two suns, allowing them the night
to rest in.”

“That good deed!” exclaimed the Indian, with strong
emphasis. “Leg can't cheat—pen great rogue.”

“Well, we have the benefit of both grants; for the proprietors
actually walked round the estate, a party of Indians
accompanying them, to see that all was fair. After that,
the chiefs signed a deed in writing, that there might be no
mistake, and then we got the King's grant.”

“Who give King land, at all?—All land here red-man
land; who give him to king?”

“Who made the Delawares women?—The warriors of
the Six nations, was it not, Susquesus?”

“Yes—my people help. Six Nation great warrior, and
put petticoat on Delawares, so they can't go on war-path
any more. What that to do with King's land?”

“Why, the King's warriors, you know, my friend, have
taken possession of this country, just as the Six Nations
took possession of the Delawares, before they made them
women.”

“What become of King's warrior, now?” demanded the
Indian, quick as lightning. “Where he run away to?
Where land Ticonderoga, now? Whose land t'other end
lake, now?”

“Why, the King's troops have certainly met with a disaster;
and, for the present, their rights are weakened, it
must be admitted. But, another day may see all this
changed, and the King will get his land again. You will
remember, he has not sold Ticonderoga to the French, as

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the Mohawks sold Mooseridge to us; and that, you must
admit, makes a great difference. A bargain is a bargain,
Onondago.”

“Yes, bargain, bargain—that good. Good for red-man,
good for pale-face—no difference—what Mohawk sell, he
no take back, but let pale-face keep—but how come Mohawk
and King sell, too?” Bot' own land, eh?”

This was rather a puzzling question to answer to an Indian.
We white people can very well understand that a
human government, which professes, on the principles recognised
by civilized nations, to have jurisdiction over certain
extensive territories that lie in the virgin forest, and
which are used only, and that occasionally, by certain savage
tribes as hunting-grounds, should deem it right to
satisfy those tribes, by purchase, before they parcelled out
their lands for the purposes of civilized life; but, it would
not be so easy to make an unsophisticated mind understand
that there could be two owners to the same property. The
transaction is simple enough to us, and it tells in favour of
our habits, for we have the power to grant these lands without
`extinguishing the Indian title,' as it is termed; but it
presents difficulties to the understandings of those who are
not accustomed to see society surrounded by the multifarious
interests of civilization. In point of fact, the Indian purchases
give no other title, under our laws, than the right to
sue out, in council, a claim to acquire by the grant of the
crown; paying to the latter such a consideration as in
its wisdom it shall see fit to demand. Still, it was necessary
to make some answer to the Onondago's question, lest he
might carry away the mistaken notion that we did not justly
own our possessions.

“Suppose you find a rifle to your fancy, Susquesus,” I
said after reflecting a moment on the subject, “and you find
two Indians who both claim to own it; now, if you pay each
warrior his price, is your right to the title any the worse for
having done so? Is it not rather better?”

The Indian was struck with this reply, which suited the
character of his mind. Thrusting out his hand, he received
mine, and shook it cordially, as much as to say he was
satisfied. Having disposed of this episode thus satisfactorily,

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we turned to the more interesting subject of our immediate
movements.

“It would seem that the Onondago expects the French
Indians will now strike at the settlements,” I remarked to
my companions, “and, that our friends at Ravensnest may
need our aid; but, at the same time, he thinks we should
first return to Mooseridge, and join the surveyors. Which
mode of proceeding strikes you as the best, my friends?”

“Let us first hear the Injin's reasons for going after the
surveyors,” answered Guert. “If he has a sufficient reason
for his plan, I am ready to follow it.”

“Surveyor got scalp, as well as squaw,” said Susquesus,
in his brief, meaning manner.

“That must settle the point!” exclaimed Guert. “I understand
it all, now. The Onondago thinks the Mooseridge
party may be cut off, as being alone and unsupported, and
that we ought to apprise them of this danger.”

“All perfectly just,” I replied, “and it is what they, being
our own people, have a right to expect from us. Still,
Guert, I should think those surveyors might be safe where
they are, in the bosom of the forest, for a year to come.
Their business there cannot be known, and who is then to
betray them?”

“See,” said Susquesus, earnestly. “Kill deer, and leave
him in the wood. Won't raven find carcass?”

“That may be true enough; but a raven has an instinct,
given him by nature, to furnish him with food. He flies
high in the air, moreover, and can see farther than an Indian.”

“Nuttin' see farther than Injin! Red-man fly high, too.
See from salt lake to sweet water. Know ebbery t'ing in
wood. Tell him nuttin' he don't know.”

“You do not suppose, Susquesus, that the Huron warriors
could find our surveyors, at Mooseridge?”

“Why, no find him? Find moose; why no find ridge,
too? Find Mooseridge, sartain; find land-measurer.”

“On the whole, Corny,” Guert remarked, after musing a
little, “we may do well to follow the Injin's advice. I have
heard of so many misfortunes that have befallen people in
the bush, from having despised Indian counsels, that I own
to a little superstition on the subject. Just look at what

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happened yesterday! Had red-skin opinions been taken,
Abercrombie might now have been a conqueror, instead of
a miserable, beaten man.”

Susquesus raised a finger, and his dark countenance became
illumined by an expression that was more eloquent
even than his tongue.

“Why no open ear to red-man!” he asked, with dignity.
“Some bird sing a song that good—some sing bad song—
but all bird know his own song. Mohawk warrior use to
wood, and follow a crooked war-path, when he meet much
enemy. Great Yengeese chief think his warrior have two
life, that he put him before cannon and rifle, to stand up and
be shot. No Injin do so foolish—no—never!”

As this was too true to be controverted, the matter was
not discussed; but, having determined among ourselves to
let the Onondago take us back on the path by which we had
come, we announced our readiness to start as soon as it
might suit his convenience. Being sufficiently rested, Susquesus,
who did everything on system, manifesting neither
impatience nor laziness, arose and quietly led the way.
Our course was just the reverse of that on which we had
travelled when we left Mooseridge; and I did not fail to
observe that, so accurate was the knowledge of our guide,
we passed many of the same objects as we had previously
gone near. There was nothing like a track, with the exception
of occasional foot-prints left by ourselves; but it was
evident the Onondago paid not the least attention to these,
possessing other and more accessible clues to his course.

Guert marched next to the Indian, and I was third in the
line. How often, that busy day, did I gaze at my file-leader,
in admiration of his figure and mien! Nature appeared to
have intended him for a soldier. Although so powerful, his
frame was agile—a particular in which he differed from
Dirck; who, although so young, already gave symptoms
of heaviness, at no distant day. Then Guert's carriage was
as fine as his form. The head was held erect; the eye was
intrepid in its glance; and the tread elastic, though so firm.
To the last hour, on that long and weary march, Guert
leaped logs, sprang across hollows in the ground, and otherwise
manifested that his iron sinews and hardened muscles
still retained all their powers. As he moved in my front, I

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saw, for the first time, that some of the fringe of his hunting-shirt
had been cut away in the fight, and that a musketball
had passed directly through his cap. I afterwards
ascertained that Guert was aware of these escapes, but his
nature was so manly, he did not think of mentioning them.

We made a single halt, as before, to dine; but little was
said, at this meal, and no change in our plan was proposed.
This was the point where we ought to have diverged from
the former course, did we intend to proceed first to Ravensnest;
but, though all knew it, nothing was said on the subject.

“We shall carry unwelcome tidings to Mr. Traverse,
and his men,” Guert observed, a minute or two before our
halt was up; “for, I take it for granted, the news cannot
have gone ahead of us.”

“We first,” answered the Onondago. “Too soon for
Huron, yet. T'ink so—nobody know.”

“I wish, Corny,” pursued the Albanian, “we had thought
of saying a word to Doortje about this accursed expedition.
There is no use in a man's being above his business; and
he who puts himself in the way of fortune, might profit by
now and then consulting a fortune-teller.”

“Had we done so, and had all that has happened been
foretold, do you suppose it would have made any change in
the result?”

“Perhaps not, since we should have been the persons to
relate what we had heard. But, Abercrombie, himself, need
have had no scruples about visiting that remarkable old woman.
She 's a wonderful creature, Corny, as we must allow,
and a prudent general would not fail to respect what she told
him. It is a thousand pities that either the Commander-In-Chief,
or the Adjutant-General, had not paid Doortje a visit
before they left Albany. My Lord Howe's valuable life
might then have been saved.”

“In what way, Guert? I am at a loss to see in what
manner any good could come of it.”

“In what manner? — Why, in the plainest possible.
Now, suppose Doortje had foretold this defeat; it is clear,
Abercrombie, if he put any faith in the old woman, would
not have made the attack.”

“And thus defeat the defeat. Do you not see, Guert, that

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the soothsayer can, at the best, but foretell what is to happen,
and that which must come will. It would be an easy
matter for any of us to get great reputations for fortune-telling,
if all we had to do was to predict misfortunes, in
order that our friends might avoid them. As nothing would
ever happen, in consequence of the precautions taken to
avert the evils, a name would be easily and cheaply maintained.”

“By St. Nicholas! Corny, I never thought of that! But,
you have been college-taught; and a thousand things are
picked up at colleges, that one never dreams of at an academy.
I see reason, every day, to lament my idleness when
a boy; and fortunate shall I be, if I do not lament it all my
life.”

Poor Guert! He was always so humble, when the subject
of education arose, however accidentally or unintentionally
on my part, that it was never commented on, that it did
not give me pain, exciting a wish to avoid it. As the time
for the halt was now up, it was easy to terminate the present
discussion, by declaring as much, and proceeding on our
way.

We had a hard afternoon's walk of it, though neither of
the five manifested the least disposition to give in. As for
Susquesus, to me, he never seemed to know either fatigue
or hunger. He was doubtless acquainted with both; but
his habits of self-command were so severe, as to enable him
completely to conceal his sufferings in this, as well as in
most other respects.

The sun was near setting when we entered within the
limits of the Mooseridge estate. We ascertained this fact
by passing the line-trees, some of which had figures cut into
their barks, to denote the numbers of the great subdivisions
of the property. Guert pointed out these marks; being far
more accustomed to the woods than either Dirck or myself.
Aided by such guides, we had no difficulty in making a sufficiently
straight course to the hut.

Susquesus thought a little caution necessary, as we drew
near to the end of our journey. Causing us to remain
behind, he advanced in front, himself, to reconnoitre. A
signal, however, soon took us to the place where he stood,
when we discovered the hut just as we had left it, but no one

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near it. This might be the result of mere accident, the
surveying party frequently `'camping out,' in preference to
making a long march after a fatiguing day's work; and
Pete would be very likely to prefer going to join these men,
to remaining alone in the hut. We advanced to the building,
therefore, with confidence. On reaching it, we found
the place empty, as had been anticipated, though with every
sign about it of its tenants having left it but a short time
previously; that morning, at the furthest.

Jaap set about preparing a supper out of the regular supplies
of the party; all of which were found in their places,
and in abundance. On inquiry of the fellow, I ascertained
it was his opinion Mr. Traverse had gone off that very day,
most probably to some distant portion of the Patent, taking
Pete with him, as everything was covered up and put away
with that sort of care that denotes an absence of some little
time. The Indian heard the negro's remark, to this effect,
and, tossing his head significantly, he said—

“No need guess—go see—light enough—plenty time.
Injin soon tell.”

He quitted the hut, on the spot, and immediately set about
this self-assigned duty.