As he knew the forest so well, and was an experienced Ranger, leave was quickly obtained, and Pringle and Roche were permitted to be of the company.
They started with the first dawn of the summer's morning; but they had not gone far before they came upon traces of their companions.
Fritz's quick eyes saw tracks in the forest which bespoke the near neighbourhood of Indians, and this made them all proceed with great caution.

The tracks, however, were some days old, he thought, and led away to the westward.

At one spot he pointed out to his companions certain indications which convinced him that a large number of Indians had lately been lying there.
"Pray Heaven it has not been an ambush sent to outwit and overpower our men!" he said.

"What would those raw lads from New Jersey do if suddenly confronted by a crew of yelling Indians?
I trust I am no coward myself, but the sound of that awful war whoop thrills me still with a kind of horror; it has been the forerunner of many a tragedy to the white man out in wildernesses such as this." "I have heard it once," said Pringle, with an expressive gesture, "and I could well wish never to hear it again, did not duty to King and country drive me willingly forth to fight against these dusky savages, who make of these fair lands a veritable hell upon earth.
"Hark! what is that ?" It was like the sound of a faint cry not so very far away.

They listened, and it was presently repeated.