Knowing, however, that it must be
concealed somewhere in the vicinity, he remarked, as they withdrew
again into the wood:
"How is it, Oonomoo, that you have your canoe in every part of the
country? You must be the owner of quite a fleet."
"Got two--free--twenty--more'n dat--all ober--in Big Miami--Little
Miami--all 'long Ohio--Soty (Sciota)--Hocking--Mussygum
(Muskingum)--'way out 'long de Wabash--hid all ober--got 'em
eberywhere."
"And I suppose you find occasion to use them all?"
"Use 'em all. Out on Wabash last winter--snow deep--two days in de
snow--paddlin' on de ribber--hab 'em hid 'long de shore--sometime lose
'em."
"How did you get them in these different places? Carry them there
yourself?"
"Made 'em--knowed want use 'em--made 'em and hid 'em."
The young soldier was about to speak, when the Huron motioned for him
to maintain his peace. The conversation had been carried on in so low
tones that a third party, a rod distant, could not have overheard their
words. Before the Indian spoke, he had glanced around to satisfy
himself that it was impossible for a human being to be concealed within
that area.
Now, however, he was about to change his position, and the strictest
silence was necessary.
The two passed down through the woods, and were just emerging again
upon the bank, when the Huron, who was in front, suddenly started back,
so quickly and lightly that the Lieutenant did not understand his
movement till he saw their relative change of position.
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