At last the river was reached. Lone-Elk was still coming on behind. There could be no doubt of it. Repeatedly Kingdom had heard the gravel under his feet as the Seneca clambered down the steep banks after him.
What a change his chance discovery of John’s camp had caused, Ree thought. A little while ago he was distressed because the Indian was always coming after him. Now he would be worried, indeed, should he find that the fellow had discontinued the pursuit. If the Seneca should give up the chase now it could mean but one thing—that he, too, had seen the camping place and was going there in search of more immediate results than his present labor promised.
A variety of tactics did Ree adopt to keep the pursuing Indian interested in watching him. Often did he pause and pretend to look all about with the greatest caution, and to listen closely, as if he had come at last to the very place which he had set out to reach. Again, he would suddenly hurry forward among the trees, or dart in here or there amidst the bushes, as though trying to escape the observation of anyone who might be near.
Up to the cabin was the game played. Only when the clearing, was reached did it end. Tired, alarmed, and more or less out of spirits, as he reckoned the extent of time wasted—a large part of the day—Kingdom sat down on a shock of corn which the Delawares had upset the night before. As he did so, he caught sight of the Indian for the first time since morning. The Seneca was moving silently from tree to tree, but apparently watching all that the white boy did.
Moved by the grim humor of the long, unavailing chase he had led the redskin, Kingdom called out to the fellow:
“Hi, there, Lone-Elk, haven’t you had enough of that sort of thing for one day?”
In an instant the savage stepped into the clearing.
“Paleface is a fool,” he spoke in English, and raised his rifle menacingly.
“Put up that gun, Lone-Elk, and come sit down here! Come, sit down, and let’s talk matters over just by ourselves,” Kingdom returned in a friendly tone. The ugly manner of the Indian really alarmed him, but he took this way of concealing the fact; and, moreover, if the Seneca could be persuaded to discuss their differences just between themselves, much might be accomplished.
With a contemptuous “Ugh!” Lone-Elk threw his rifle over his arm again. But instead of accepting Kingdom’s invitation, he turned into the woods and was soon gone from sight.