Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/237

 as to move in all directions at the same time. I will not dwell upon particulars—it will suffice to say, that keen eyes and indefatigable feet brought us at last to the presence of the largest number of these marauders. Seven of them were slain by the edge of a brook, where they sat wholly unconscious of the danger which hung over them; five escaped, and one of these secured his retreat by wresting your fusee from your uncle, and shooting him dead: before our companion could be rescued or revenged, the assassin, with the remnant of his troop, disappeared, and bore away with him the fusee as a trophy of his victory.

"This disaster was deplored, not only on account of that life which had thus been sacrificed, but because a sagacious guide and intrepid leader was lost. His acquaintance with the habits of the Indians, and his experience in their wars, made him trace their footsteps with more certainty than any of his associates.

"The pursuit was still continued, and parties were so stationed, that the escape of the enemy was difficult, if not impossible: our search was unremitted; but, during twelve or fourteen hours, unsuccessful. Queen Mab did not escape all suspicion: her hut was visited by different parties; but the old woman and her dogs had disappeared.

"Meanwhile your situation was not forgotten: every one was charged to explore your footsteps as well as those of the savages; but this search was no less unsuccessful than the former—none had heard of you or seen you.

"This continued till midnight. Three of us made a pause at a brook, and intended to repair our fatigues by a respite of a few hours; but scarcely had we stretched ourselves on the ground, when we were alarmed by a shot, which seemed to have been fired at a short distance. We started on our feet, and consulted with each other on the measures to be taken. A second, a third, and a fourth shot, from the same quarter, excited our attention anew. Mab's hut was known to stand at the distance and in the direction of this sound, and hither we resolved to repair.

"This was done with speed, but with the utmost circumspection. We shortly reached the road that leads