He went back slowly, but the grass stems moved only a little as he went, and he was confident that he not only had not been seen, but would not be seen.

Yet he scarcely dared to breathe--until he reached the bushes inclosing the opening in which his comrades lay.
He paused a few moments before waking the others and filled his lungs with air.

He was surprised to find that the hands holding his rifle were damp with perspiration, and he realized then how great the brief strain had been.

Suppose he had not seen the Indian in the bush, and had been ambushed while on his scouting round! Or suppose he had stayed with his comrades and had been ambushed there! But neither had happened, and, taking Willet by the shoulder, he shook him, at the same time whispering in his ear to make no noise.

The hunter, his trained faculties at once awake and on guard, sat up quietly, and Tayoga, who seemed to awake instinctively at the same time, also, sat up.
"What is it, Robert ?" whispered Willet.
"An Indian in the bush about two hundred yards away," replied the youth.
"I merely saw his hair and the feather in it, but it's safe to assume that he's not the only one." "That is so," said Tayoga.