"Keep out way--won't come down--stay away." "Well, if you are enough satisfied to give me a written guarantee, that's all there is about it. How long do you expect to be gone?" "Not long--soon be back." This was not very definite, but it was all the Mohawk would say, and without any more words he took his departure, walking back over the trail which they had been following since leaving the river. "I can't understand why he is sure that no one will make a call on us while he is gone," said Jo Minturn to Ned, as the three once more seated themselves, this time on a fallen tree. "The only reason that suggests itself to me is that he believes we are so far off the track of the Iroquois that the only possibility that can lead them this way is by their discovering our trail, and if they attempt that, they will run against him, as he is going backward over it." "That seems to be a pretty good reason, but he may miss it, nevertheless. There may not be much danger of an invasion from any other direction, and yet there's no telling, either, from what point of the compass these wretches may come." "You ought to have explained all that," said Rosa. "I am quite sure that Lena-Wingo would be grateful for all the instruction you can give him in the ways of the woods. But you know he is so much younger than you, and has had so little experience, that you must be charitable, and not judge him too harshly." Jo laughed and shook his head at his sister, who persisted in "touching" him up on every occasion. "As we are to stay here indefinitely," said Ned, "there can be no harm in taking an observation and learning something for ourselves." "How are we to do it?" asked his friend. Ned pointed to the towering trees which stood on every hand. "Climb up among those branches; what better outlook can one ask than he can get among those limbs?" "What a nice target a man would be, too, if an Indian should catch sight of him!" said Rosa, as she looked up at the leaves gently swaying in the slight morning breeze. "But after what Lena-Wingo said, I don't think there's much to be feared of that, and I look upon your idea as a good one, Edward." "If my sister considers the idea a good one," said Jo, "that settles it, and you need have no further fear." "Of course not," was the prompt assent of Ned, who moved to the tree which he had selected as his lookout.