With stealthy and cautious steps they made their way through the encampment, but when clear of this, they traveled as rapidly as the darkness of the night and the nature of the ground would admit of.
All night, and a portion of the next day they continued their journey. The rapidity with which she traveled, and her unhesitating manner, soon convinced Flint that she was familiar with the country.
Upon reaching Butterhill, or Mount Tecomthe, she led the way to the cave which we have already described.
After resting for a few moments in the first chamber, the Indian woman, who we may as well inform the reader was none other than our friend Lightfoot, showed Flint the secret door and the entrance to the grand chamber, which after lighting a torch made of pitch-pine, they entered.
"Here we are safe," said Lightfoot; "Indians no find us here."
The moment Flint entered this cavern it struck him as being a fine retreat for a band of pirates or smugglers, and for this purpose he determined to make use of it.
Lightfoot's knowledge of this cave was owing to the fact, that she belonged to a tribe to whom alone the secrets of the place were known. It was a tribe that had inhabited that part of the country for centuries. But war and privation had so reduced them, that there was but a small remnant of them left, and strangers now occupied their hunting grounds.
The Indians in the neighborhood knew of the existence of the cave, but had never penetrated farther than the first chamber, knowing nothing of the concealed entrance which led to the other. Having as they said, seen Indians enter it who never came out again, and who although followed almost immediately could not be found there, they began to hold it in a kind of awe, calling it the mystery or medicine cave, and saying that it was under the guardianship of spirits.
Although the remnants of the once powerful tribe to whom this cave had belonged, were now scattered over the country, there existed between them a sort of masonry by which the different members could recognise each other whenever they met.
Fire Cloud, the Indian chief, who has already been introduced to the reader, was one of this tribe.