Just as the rays of the rising sun streamed through the crevices of our log tenement, and ere one of us three idlers had risen from his pallet, I heard a moccasined foot moving near me, in the nearly noiseless tread of an Indian. Springing to my feet, I found myself face to face with the missing Onondago! “You here, Susquesus!” I exclaimed; “we supposed you had abandoned us. What has brought you back?” “Time to go, now,” answered the Indian, quietly. “Yengeese and Canada warrior soon fight.” “Is this true!--And do you, _can_ you know it to be true! Where have you been this fortnight past?” “Been see--have see--know him just so. Come--call young men; go on war-path.” Here, then, was an explanation of the mystery of the Onondago's absence! He had heard us speak of an intention of moving with the troops, at the last moment, and he had gone to reconnoitre, in order that we might have seasonable notice when it would be necessary to quit the 'Ridge,' as we familiarly termed the Patent. I saw nothing treasonable in this, but rather deemed it a sign of friendly interest in our concerns; though it was certainly 'running' much farther than the Indian had been directed to proceed, and 'running' a little off the track. One might overlook such an irregularity in a savage, however, more especially as I began to weary of the monotony of our present manner of living, and was not sorry to discover a plausible apology for a change. The reader may be certain, it was not long before I had communicated the intelligence brought by the Trackless, to my companions; who received it as young men would be; apt to listen to tidings so stirring. The Onondago was summoned to our council, and he renewed his protestation that it was time for us to be moving. “No stop”--he answered, when questioned again on the subject; “time go. Canoe ready--gun loaded--warrior counted--chief woke up--council fire gone out. Time, go.” “Well then, Corny,” said Guert, rising and stretching his fine frame like a lion roused from his lair, “here's off. We can go to Ravensnest to sleep, to-day; and, to-morrow we will work our way out into the highway, and fall into the line of march of the army. I shall have another opportunity of seeing Mary Wallace, and of telling her how much I love her. That will be so much gained, at all events.” “No see squaw--no go to Nest!” said the Indian, with energy. “War-path _this_ way,” pointing in a direction that might have varied a quarter of a circle from that to Herman Mordaunt's settlement. “Bad for warrior to see squaw when he dig up hatchet--only make woman of him. No; go this way--path there--no here--scalp there--squaw here.”