By this I knew that Jennifer had escaped; nay, more; had somehow learned of my escape and was seeking me. "Is that all the chief saw?" I asked. "Ugh! See heap more things: see one thing white squaw no let him tell Captain Long-knife. Maybe some time tell, anyhow." "The white squaw?" said I. "Who is she?" The Catawba laughed, an Indian laugh, silent and suppressed; a mere shaking of the ribs. "No can tell that, neither, too," he said. Then, with a swift dart aside from the subject: "Captain Long-knife care much 'bout black dogs yonder?" I knew he meant the negroes at the hunting lodge. "The white man cares for the black as a kind master should," I returned. The Indian spat upon the ground in token of his hatred and contempt for all the black skins in his fatherland. I never understood this bitter race antipathy between the red and black, but 'tis a tale well written out in many a bloody massacre of that earlier day. "The wolves will kill all the black dogs and drink their blood before the moon is awake. Uncanoola has spoken." I sheathed my sword and turned to take the backward trace. "Captain Long-knife will go and fight for his black dogs with wool on their heads?" he queried. "If need be," I asserted. "Wah!" he ejaculated, and at the word was gone as if the earth had swallowed him. I lost no time in indecision. Since Jennifer was abroad, I had no business at the plantations; and if Tomas and the other refugees were like to come to harm, I could do no less than hasten back to warn or help them. So I retraced my steps, hurriedly, as the business urged; and saw no more shadows in the ancient wood--in truth, had much ado to see the single step ahead, so thickly did the darkness gather in those skyless depths. I was breasting the last low hill, was come so near that I could hear the murmur of the river, when in the farthest hazy vista of the tree-tops a softened glow appeared, changing the black to green and then to red. 'Twas like the childish Africans, I said, to draw a secret sentry line for safety's sake, and then to build a fire to advertise it far and wide. Truly, the Catawba's wolves might find an easy-- A chattering scream of agony sent shrill and sharp upon the stillness of the night halted me and broke the gibing comment in the midst. I stood and listened. The cry rang out again; then I loosed the Andrea in its scabbard and fell a-running, though the half-healed wound scanted me sorely of the breath I wanted. The cabin clearing, or rather the thinned-out grove which stood in lieu thereof, was but a niggard acre hemmed in on every side, save that toward the river, by the virgin forest. For cover there were holly thickets here and there, and into one of these I plunged, creeping on hands and knees to gain a hidden view-point.