Four times he heard the sound of shots, and thrice more he saw warriors passing through the forest.

Once a wounded deer darted past him, and, lying down in the bushes, he saw the Indians following the fleeing animal.

As the day grew older the trails multiplied.

Certainly a formidable gathering of bands was in progress, and, feeling that he might at any time be caught in a net, he returned to the islet, which had now become a veritable fort for him.
It was not quite dark when he arrived, and he found all as it had been except the tracks of two panthers under the boughs to which he had fastened the big pieces of bear meat.

Henry felt a malicious satisfaction at the disappointment of the panthers.
"Come again, and have the same bad luck," he murmured.
At dusk the rain ceased entirely, and he prepared for a journey in the night.