Then the chief took the rifle that had belonged to the captive, tapped it on the barrel and pointed toward the southeast.

Henry nodded to indicate that he had come from that point, and then smiling swept the circle of the northwestern horizon with his hands.

He meant to say that he would go with them without resistance, for the present, at least, and the chief seemed to understand, as his face relaxed into a look of comprehension and even of good nature.
Their march was resumed presently and as before it was straight into the northwest.

They passed out of the forest crossed the Ohio in hidden canoes and entered a region of small but beautiful prairies, cut by shallow streams, which they waded with undiminished speed.

Henry began to suspect that the band came from some very distant country, and was hastening so much in order not to be caught on the hunting grounds of rival tribes.