“Let us hasten at once,” said Virginia, in a fever of impatience.
The blows of misfortune were falling thick and heavy upon her head. First, her lover struck down lifeless at her feet; then her capture by the hostile red-skins; and now the dangerous illness of her only parent.
“Tread cautiously and lightly,” said Benton, in warning, as they passed through the door of the cabin. “We can not tell which bush or tree may conceal a lurking Indian. The very leaves of the grass beneath our feet may hide a foe.”
“Oh, I will be very careful!” said Virginia, earnestly.
Then the two set out upon the dangerous journey.
Silently on through the wood they went.
After proceeding for a short time, Virginia began to wonder at the manner in which the stranger led the way. A girl reared on the border, she was somewhat familiar with border ways.
What astonished her was that the man who was guiding her was proceeding straight onward, apparently without caution as if he had no fears of stumbling without warning upon any red foes.
Virginia’s thought, however, was that he knew the path so well, and had passed over it so recently, that he did not apprehend danger.
Soon they came to a place where the bank stooped down to meet the river. They had followed the Kanawha in their course.