He had approached several hours before, and seen the savages in consultation, and divined the cause of it.

To divert them from pursuing his two friends, whom they would most certainly have captured, he discharged his piece among them, and then purposely showed himself to draw them after him.

The stratagem succeeded as well as he could have wished.

He easily eluded them, until they had followed him some distance in the woods, when he made his way back again to the clearing, where he rejoined the Lieutenant and the negro..