Thus he was not looking when his friend emerged from the forest, and did not hear the light tread of his moccasined feet.

Nor was he aware of any presence near him, until a low laugh, which so startled him that he almost upset the canoe, gave the first hint of his friend's return.
"Oh, Has-se!" he exclaimed, in a whisper rendered hoarse by his excitement, "glad am I to see thee once more.

Chitta is in pursuit of us, and with him is as evil-looking an Indian as ever I saw, but large and powerful withal." Then he related the whole incident of the appearance of the strange canoe, to which Has-se listened with grave attention.
When Rene had finished he said, "Has-se also has something to tell.
Far down the river, on the side opposite the end of the trail, he heard the sound of many voices, and he knows his people are there.

Let us go to them." "But if we venture out into the stream, will not Chitta and the one with him see us ?" "If they do not until we float on the river, they must prove themselves swifter than Hu-la-lah" (the wind) "to catch us before we reach friends.

How is thy hand?
Is the sting of Chitta-wewa still painful ?" "Oh! my hand?
Why, no; I had no thought of it until now.