"Begorrah! where is the long-legged chap, Hizikiah, that ye had with yees?"
Waring, in a few words, related what is already known to the reader; and then repeated his request to the Irishman for an account of his escape from the Shawanoes.
"Wal, ye saas, the way that it happened was this. I s'pose you know how I was took on that ould flat-boat?"
"Yes; your own foolishness was the cause of it. You need not relate that. Give us what happened subsequently."
"Wal, ye saas, the haythen had us pretty fast, and it was mighty onsartain the way things looked. Whisht! what is that?"
The near report of a rifle suddenly broke the stillness of the woods, and the two speakers instantly sat down where they were better protected by the undergrowth from observation. All interest was immediately centred upon the one thought of safety.
"I am afraid that we are still in imminent peril," whispered Waring. "Those Shawanoes, without doubt, are upon your trail."
"No, be the powers! they ain't."
"Don't be too sure, my friend. Those lynx-eyed savages will follow the lightest footsteps."
"Not if they're made in the water—eh, boy?"