I want you to see him the
minute he comes, and awaken me so that there shall be no unnecessary
delay."
Cato promised to obey, and took his station nearer the clearing, while
the fatigued soldier stretched himself upon the ground and was soon
wrapped in a dreamless slumber.
Lieutenant Canfield slept until nearly sunset, and would have slept
even longer had he not been aroused by Cato roughly shaking his
shoulder.
"Why, what's the matter?" he asked, looking up in the terror-stricken
countenance of the negro.
"Hebens, golly! _dey've come_!"
"Who has come? what are you talking about?"
"De Injines. Dar's forty fousand of 'em out dar in de clearing!"
Considerably flurried by the husky words of his sable friend,
Lieutenant Canfield arose and walked stealthily toward the clearing to
satisfy himself in regard to the cause of the negro's excessive fear.
"Be keerful, or dey'll see you," admonished the latter, following
several yards behind.
Approaching as near the edge of the wood as he deemed prudent, he was
rewarded by the sight of some six or eight Indians--undoubtedly
Shawnees--who were examining the ruins that lay around them with
considerable curiosity. They were ugly-looking customers in their
revolting war-paint and fantastic costumes, and the Lieutenant felt
that the wisest plan he could adopt was to give them a wide berth.
Withdrawing further into the wood, he asked the negro when he had first
seen them.
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