He was now in the vicinity of the river, where
he had left his canoe drawn up on the bank. It was necessary to
reconnoiter thoroughly before venturing to approach it. Accordingly,
he halted. The movement of the panther in approaching his foe was not
more stealthy and cautious than was his.
At length, reaching the shelter of a tree, and cautiously peering
around, the Huron caught sight of the stern of his canoe. One glance
and his dark eyes flashed fire! The Shawnees had been there!
What sign caught the notice of Oonomoo? What kindled the fire in his
dark eye? What caused one hand to close over his knife, and the other
to grasp his rifle? It was a sign of his enemy. Too well the
sagacious Huron knew that the Shawnee was lying in wait for him.
The canoe, which Oonomoo left behind him, during his interview with
Hans Vanderbum, lay precisely as it was first deposited. Not a
surrounding limb, shrub or leaf had, so far as he could see, been
disturbed since he left the spot. And yet the evidence which presented
itself to the eyes of the Indian was as palpable and unmistakable as
would have been the appearance of enemies themselves.
Oonomoo had carefully drawn his bark canoe up the river-bank and
concealed it as well as the circumstances would admit. He had then
deposited his long Indian paddle in it, leaving the blade projecting
over the stern. The paddle _was now several inches further to one side
than it had been left by him_!
This was the entire evidence.
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