Chapter 23

           "Butthoughthebeastofgame

           Theprivilegeofchasemayclaim;

           Thoughspaceandlawthestagwelend

           Erehoundweslip,orbowwebend;

           Whoeverrecked,where,how,orwhen

           Theprowlingfoxwastrappedorslain?"

           LadyoftheLake.

           Itisunusualtofindanencampmentofthenatives,likethoseofthemoreinstructedwhites,guardedbythepresenceofarmedmen.Wellinformedoftheapproachofeverydanger,whileitisyetatadistance,theIndiangenerallyrestssecureunderhisknowledgeofthesignsoftheforest,andthelonganddifficultpathsthatseparatehimfromthosehehasmostreasontodread.Buttheenemywho,byanyluckyconcurrenceofaccidents,hasfoundmeanstoeludethevigilanceofthescouts,willseldommeetwithsentinelsnearerhometosoundthealarm.Inadditiontothisgeneralusage,thetribesfriendlytotheFrenchknewtoowelltheweightoftheblowthathadjustbeenstruck,toapprehendanyimmediatedangerfromthehostilenationsthatweretributarytothecrownofBritain.

           WhenDuncanandDavid,therefore,foundthemselvesinthecentreofthechildren,whoplayedtheanticsalreadymentioned,itwaswiththeleastpreviousintimationoftheirapproach.Butsosoonastheywereobserved,thewholeofthejuvenilepackraised,bycommonconsent,ashrillandwarningwhoop;andthensank,asitwere,bymagic,frombeforethesightoftheirvisitors.