sound of a voice to alarm him. He peered forth from his leafy screen and strove to read the trail, but the well-trod earth told him nothing. He was at an elbow of the path. A few paces away in each direction it bent eastward. Already the leaves of a witch hazel were pale with the first rays of sunlight that filtered down through the thick forest. No longer was it possible for him to travel the trail, though it might be that by proceeding slowly and with much caution he could follow it through the woods. But he was sore and stiff in every muscle and his hands and face, whipped and scratched by the branches, were tender to the touch. He still craved rest, and yet he knew that should the English not come soon from the village, their coming would concern him little, for already the Indians were doubtless seeking him. For the first time it occurred to him that, after all, he had no certain knowledge that his friends had come for him yesterday. There might be some other reason for concealing him in the cave. Perchance an alarm had been brought to the fort that later had proven false. The thought dismayed him and for a moment he contemplated taking the trail boldly and making what haste his tired limbs would al-
