If I fail, and return no more, I still crave thy blessing, and to be remembered without abatement of the love thou hast ever extended to me.

No person within the fort has aided me in this matter, nor has any one of thy garrison knowledge of my departure.
"I remain, dear uncle, with sincerest respect and deepest love, thy nephew, "RENE DE VEAUX." Having thus taken measures to inform his uncle of his departure and the mission on which he had set forth, Rene tightened his belt, shouldered his cross-bow, and turned into the dark pine forest.

He made his way swiftly down the river-bank towards the appointed place of meeting, where he hoped to find Has-se still waiting for him, though it was already past the hour that the latter had mentioned.

On the way he stopped and recovered the package of trinkets that he had hidden in the forest that afternoon.
As he neared the little stream on the bank of which the Indian lad had promised to await his coming, he uttered the cry of Hup-pe the great owl, which was the signal Has-se had taught him.

To his joy it was immediately answered from a short distance in advance.