A cheer went up from all the assembled settlers, and the wildwood rang with their voices again and again, and then when silence had come there were various comments. "I thought the pilot was too tough to be put out by a single bullet," said one. "I knew that ye couldn't drown an old water dog like him," said another. "Did they get a doctor," said Professor Bill. "Yaas," drawled one of the returned expedition, "they got a doctor and he fixed him up, but he can't be moved yet for some time, but he'll pull through, he said. We didn't have much time fer to talk with Hugh, for we uns wanted to see about the tother fellow and the Shawnese. We went all the way to the mouth of the creek, and there we learned thet five Indians were seen crossing the river in a canoe some hours before. Now, I remembers it, some of the fellows at the mouth said they seemed in a powerful hurry, and passed over the river in the early dawn, and were making their way toward Michigan." "And Mr. Dick?" asked the Professor. "Nawthing was seen of him at all. He must be drowned by this time." There was a little conference between Professor Bill and the hunter about moving Ande to Burgtown, but the old man strenuously opposed it, and Bill acquiesced in his plan of leaving him at the Loop until he should recover. The setting sun saw all of the expedition trotting homeward to Burgtown, where the events of the day were gone over again and again for the benefit of Peter Burke, tavern keeper. In the mind of that worthy they were tabulated and placed on the same shelf in his memory as the records of Reverend Burg. CHAPTER XXVII THE SECRET OF THE SNUFF-BOX