A short distance ahead a figure bounded across the trail and disappeared in the thicket.

It was only a flitting glimpse, but he recognized St.Luc, the athletic figure, the fair hair and the strong face.
"St.Luc!" he exclaimed.

"Did you see, Dave?
Did you see ?" "Aye, I saw," said the hunter, "and the enemy is here!" He whirled about, threw up his arms and shouted to the column to stop.

At the same moment, a terrible cry, the long fierce war whoop of the savages, burst from the forest, filled the air and came back in ferocious echoes.

Then a deadly fire of rifles and muskets was poured from both right and left upon the marching column.