Cora, said Walter, some lurking Indian might run off with you, and then you would be cured of your romance. [Illustration: CORA AT THE GRAPE ARBOR.] Not a bit of it, she replied. I wish that one of the red-skins would steal me. That would be romantic indeed. And to think that you and the whole ship’s company would be hunting after me. That would be what the sailors call a stern chase, and then she disappeared behind the arbor. Instantly a blanket is thrown over her head, and she is carried, she knows not where. She supposed it was a trick got up by Walter to scare her, and to carry out the joke, submitted willingly, and it was not until she found herself laid in the bottom of a canoe that she awoke to a sense of danger. She now realized that she was in a boat of some kind, sailing on the water. CHAPTER XVI. The Bee Hunters—Drake and Rolla on the Trail—Call of the Tree Toad—Answer of the Blue Jay. We left Drake and the two Quicks on the Steneykill, returning with honey. When they discovered moccasin tracks and heard Rolla’s peculiar bark, they became alarmed for the safety of those at the cabin, and hurried forward. Rolla rushed ahead and commenced an uncommon continued howl. That is a new howl, said Drake. And has a new meaning, replied Cahoonshee. They hurried forward and Rolla continued to howl. When they approached they saw Rolla stretched out at full length on the ground, and the cat Walt lay dead by his side with an arrow through its head. The Great Spirit have mercy on those at the cabin, exclaimed Cahoonshee. The cabin was soon reached, and there sat Betsy tied to her chair. She was soon released and the parties informed of the capture of Amy by the Stockbridge Indians. Drake was much affected, and tears ran down his cheeks. Fear not, we will save the girl, said Cahoonshee. You three take the dog and go in search of the trail. Follow it as long as it goes west, but if it turns east, send one of your number to me. Drake and the Quicks shouldered their guns and started, Rolla taking the lead, and soon found the trail, which went nearly due west, toward the Mongaup. It would seem that the Indians made no effort to conceal their trail, which for a long time puzzled the pursuing party. The sun was now down, and the darkness of the night over-shadowed the forest. Yet, Rolla with perfect confidence followed the trail until they came to Mongaup River. Here the hunters found themselves baffled. They went two miles up on the east side of the River. Then crossing, searched back to the point where they commenced, but failed to find any sign of the trail. Then they resolved to return to the cabin, fill their knapsacks and renew the search in the morning. After the hunters left, Cahoonshee went out and shot some rabbits, and with their brains preserved the skin of the cat Walt. It was after midnight when the hunters returned. They informed Cahoonshee of the finding of the trail and losing it again at the Mongaup.