Lewis had proposed to himself, when starting, to take the nearest route to the settlement; but his apprehension for the safety of Edith led him to change his intention after going a few miles. The Indians which he had assisted so signally to repulse, he believed would hover around the settlers so long as there remained an opportunity to pick off any of them. They would not fail, too, to scour the woods in search of smaller parties, and knowing the destination of the emigrants, would select the very ground over which they too were journeying. The Rifleman took the best course to avoid them. Retracing his steps some distance, he turned off toward the creek, he having concluded to ascend this for several miles, and then take a circuitous route to the settlement, convinced that, in this case, the longest way was the surest.
"Why this change of direction?" asked Edith, looking up in alarm, as he turned and commenced retracing his steps.
"I think it best," he replied, with a smile.
"Have you discovered danger? Are we pursued?"
"Not that I know of. But I have been thinking for some time that if there are any Injins in this wood, this is the very ground they will select to cut us off, because they know that it is the one which we would naturally take, in making such a journey as this."
"I have full faith in you."
And the gallant Rifleman felt he would die before any act of his should cause her to lose this faith in him. As she turned her trusting blue eyes up to his, their heavenly light seemed to fill his whole being, and he scarcely was conscious of what he did when he reached out his hand, and said:
"Edith, let me take your hand."
"Why, what need is there of that?" she coyly asked, with a roguish look, as she half complied and half hesitated.
"I shall feel safer—that is, I shall feel more certain of your safety if I lead you."