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The Huron had scarcely landed, when his quick ear detected a suspicious sound. He glanced furtively around. Nothing, however, was seen, although his apprehensions of the proximity of his foes had assumed a certainty. Without pausing in the least, he instantly took the back trail, Fluellina being close behind him, and Niniotan bringing up the rear.
The men stood silent and affected witnesses of the scene. Brushing the luxuriant hair from the face of the dying Indian, the preacher said: "Oonomoo, is there anything I can do for you?" "Where be Niniotan?" "Here," responded the boy, approaching him. "Stand where you be, and see a Christian warrior die," he commanded, in his native tongue. "Where is Fluellina's hand?"
As he did so, there was something about the movement which awakened the suspicion of Oonomoo, and without stirring, he gave utterance to a low, trilling whistle. Instantly there came a similar response, and the boy appeared again to view, bounding forward quickly toward Oonomoo. "Niniotan." "Oonomoo." "What brings you thus far in the woods?" "The Shawnees have discovered the home of Oonomoo!"
Niniotan goes to them." "Friends," said the missionary, "you have witnessed a scene which I trust will not be lost upon you. Live and die in the simple faith of this untutored Indian and all will be well." "Captain," added the speaker, addressing Captain Prescott, "he has been a true friend to our race for years, and we must do him what kindness we can.
"Oonomoo will pray for himself, and his arm will be strong, for he fights none but warriors." "And Niniotan will grow up like him; he will be a brave warrior who, I pray, will take no scalp from the head of his foe." "What think the missionary of Niniotan?" "He finds that the blood of Oonomoo flows strong in his veins.
They had just completed their meal, when Niniotan and Oonomoo started, raising their heads, as if something had caught their ears. Listening a moment, the latter said: "Somebody comin'." "Hebens, golly! am it Injines?" asked Cato, looking around for some good place to hide.
The canoe reached, Oonomoo stepped within it, and Niniotan paddled him out among the trees until he came to where his own canoe was moored, into which the Huron stepped. As he was about to dip the paddle, he said: "Let Niniotan wait until Oonomoo returns, and he shall go with him upon the next war-path."
Adieu, the mountain's lofty swell, Adieu, thou little verdant hill, And seas, and stars, and skies, farewell! Away started Niniotan like a fawn, his father following at a rate that kept both within a few feet of each other. The densest portions of the wood seemed to offer them no impediments, as they glided like rabbits through them.
Niniotan leaped after her, and the next moment they were going down the stream at a speed that seemed would tear the boat asunder every moment. Debouching into the creek, the canoe rounded gracefully and went upward with undiminished velocity, until, in almost an incredible space, the point of embarkation was reached, when Oonomoo ran in and sprung ashore, followed instantly by his wife and son.
The dark eyes of Niniotan appeared larger, as if expanded with terror, and looked as if they were fixed upon some point, many leagues away in the horizon. The habitual gloomy expression rested upon the face of Oonomoo, and it needed no skillful physiognomist to read the signs of an unusual emotion upon his swarthy countenance.
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