Turning abruptly away, he held the bridle-rein of the pioneer's horse in one hand, and, with his long bow in the other, began moving through the wood, which route may roughly be described as half way between that just followed and the course of the trail nearest them.
The work for a time was as hard as before, and the animal showed so much reluctance that, in addition to the tugging at the rein by the leader, he required some vigorous prodding from his master before he would do his duty; but ere long a pleasant fact became apparent to all; the wood was so open that it was a comparatively easy matter for all to advance. If it should remain thus, they could push on with little more trouble than that encountered in travelling over the trail itself.
Of course, nothing was easier than for the Shawanoes to follow the footprints of the party, and it was to guard against any surprise of this kind that Kenton remained some distance behind the others.
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE LAST HALT.
Within the following half hour a pleasant surprise came to the little party.
"My gracious!" exclaimed the pioneer to his wife, "do you see that, Margaret?"
He pointed to the ground between them as he spoke, and she nodded her head with a smile.
"We are travelling over a trail," he added; "Red Crow is keeping his promise; he knows what he is doing."