Their fires were still burning, which showed the precipitancy with which they had taken flight.

This rather alarmed the party of the whites.

They feared that the Indian warriors were assembling from all quarters, at some secret rendezvous, and would soon fall upon them in overwhelming numbers.

They therefore did not venture to replenish the Indian fires and lie down by the warmth of them, but pushed rapidly on their way.
It chanced to be a serene, moonlight night.

The trail through the forest, which the Indian's foot for countless generations had trodden smooth, illumined by the soft rays of the moon, was exceedingly beautiful.