Oonomoo the Huron

y foes his p

ched the fores

point on the river fully three hundred yards below where he had signaled the German. The stream making a bend there, he would

forward, in the attitude of acute attention, and his black, restless eyes constantly flitted from one point to the other, scarcely resting for a s

river, where he had left his canoe drawn up on the bank. It was necessary to reconnoiter thoroughly before venturing to approach

around, the Huron caught sight of the stern of his canoe. One gl

ed one hand to close over his knife, and the other to grasp his rifle? It was a sign of

surrounding limb, shrub or leaf had, so far as he could see, been disturbed since he left the spot. And yet the evidence which pr

tances would admit. He had then deposited his long Indian paddle in it, leaving the blade projecting

not between the canoe and the river. His course of action was accordingly determined. It would have been the easiest matter in the world for him to have escaped by swimming the river; but as an opportunity for a contest of skill with his en

one on the same bank, although he could be plainly seen from the opposite shore. Oonomoo now commenced his descent of the river with the intention of recovering his canoe. This was necessarily a tedious and pro

stile scout, they carefully allowed it to remain as they had found it, and endeavored to restore everything around to its natural position, so as not to arouse the suspicion of the owner

hout any perceptible jar, slid an inch or two down the bank. So quietly and cautiously was this effe

ound that might indicate the approach of their foe, and paid little heed to the canoe itself. Ever and anon, it retreated an inch or two down the bank in the same mys

ery and undergrowth around appeared to occupy relatively the same position that they did before it had been disturbed. The river shore was only some twenty or thirty feet distan

d it, followed by his two companions. They had taken scarcely a step, when they saw the boat slide swiftly forward several feet, and then suddenly rising to the perpendicular position, whisk off throug

m. With one foot in the edge of the water, he concentrated all his strength for the effort and leaped far out in the stream-the canoe falling with a loud splash perfectly flat upon the surface. The impetus thus given caused it to shoot like an arrow for a long dista

mb was placed within it, and thus was carried back to the edge of the river. Lying flat upon his face, this limb was about the thickness of the Huron's waist, and by skillfully balancing the boat, it was interposed directly between him and his foes. The only parts of his person which possibly could be struck were his feet and the arm stretched over the side of the canoe. The former neces

tream by the current. The whoop of the Shawnees had been heard by their comrades further down the bank. As the canoe reached the middle of the river, they caught a sight of it, and readily conjectured the true state of the case. In a twinkling, two of their own were launched in pursuit. Discovering this, Oonomoo arose to the upright position, and dipping his paddle deep in the water, sent his boat