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128 darkness set in, Dodge desired his friends to resign themselves to sleep, which he assured them they might do with safety, as very few of the native tribes ventured to move abroad after dark. For himself he had decided upon reconnoitering in the neighbourhood, and under the cloak of night to discover where the blacks had pitched their camp, and to make such observations as might serve him on the morrow. Arming himself with care, he left Raymond and Slinger in no very amiable state of mind on account of his positive refusal to allow them to accompany him, notwithstanding they made great efforts to shake his resolution. He stalked away noiselessly, after giving his friends warning not to mistake him for a black when he returned. The two friends watched for a time, but sleep at length overcame their resolution to remain awake until the return of their absent companion.

In the course of a short time, with legs bruised and bleeding, Dodge found himself suddenly immersed in a stream into which he had stumbled. If something like a subdued curse escaped him, let us consider for a moment the unenviable position which he occupied. The night was dark, he was up to his waist in water, in an unknown district with two friends entirely dependent upon his guidance, an empty commissariat, and with every appearance of a new difficulty in the shape of a tribe of hostile savages. It is not to be wondered at that his usual equanimity and coolness momentarily forsook him. The stream into which Dodge had fallen was almost overgrown with trees, and it was some moments before he could extricate himself from his uncomfortable situation. As soon as he was fairly on terra firma his gun and ammunition engaged all his attention. He was glad to find, as far as he was enabled to discover, that the wet had not affected either. After giving himself a shake or two, he carefully followed the winding of the stream, and