The awaking of the boys was of the most pleasant character. The sky had cleared and the sunlight between the branches from which the autumn leaves were fast falling. The crispness which is felt at that season of the year, stirred the young hearts and enlivened the spirits in spite of the serious situation in which all three found themselves.  
The odor of fish was snuffed by the lads, and nothing could have been more delicious and appetizing. They were very hungry, and the night before they supposed they would have to wait indefinitely for their morning meal, but they opened their eyes to find that Deerfoot had provided the most toothsome breakfast that could be imagined.
 
In the early morning light, two hours before the sun appeared, Deerfoot crossed the stream in his own canoe, and, taking the trail, ran several miles at the highest speed. While he did not go far enough to see the camp-fire of the main war party of Winnebagos, he did not pause until certain that they had stayed in camp all night and would not cross the stream where the boys lay asleep until the forenoon was half gone. So the Shawanoe hastened back, and dropped a short distance down stream in his canoe, having obtained his paddle, to an where it took but a few minutes for him to a half dozen fish from the cool, clear depths, and these were just browning to a turn when the boys opened their eyes.
 
Fred and Terry looked in each other's faces and laughed. They knew what an absurd failure they had made. They had promised to watch while Deerfoot slept, and then left him to act as sentinel until morning.
 
"It was your fault," whispered Fred, hunting in his pocket for the package of salt and pepper which survived, despite the wetting it had received; "why didn't you wake me up, as I told you to do?"
 
"How could I wake ye up when I was aslaap mesilf?" was the of Terry; "I think I was only a half minute behind yersilf in beginning me swate dreams."
 
"Even if you had roused me," said Fred, "I suppose I would have dropped to sleep the same as you; no one can keep awake (unless it is Deerfoot) while sitting on the ground. Well, I am sure I shan't say any thing about it if he doesn't."
 
"Let us shake on that," whispered Terry, stealthily extending his hand.
 
Deerfoot acted as though that any such had occurred. The browned fish were spread on the green leaves, and Fred sprinkled the upon the portions to be eaten by himself and Terry; the Shawanoe preferred none on his.
 
"If nothing unexpected happens," said Fred, "we will arrive at the cabin to-day."
 
The Shawanoe inclined his head by way of answer.
 
"When will the Winnebagos that are following us come to this stream?"
 
Deerfoot to a portion of the sky403 which the sun would reach in about three hours from that time.
 
"The Winnebagos are together; there may be a few coming from different parts of the wood, but Black Bear has most of his with him, and he feels strong enough to destroy the cabin and our brothers who are there."
 
"There are three there now, and when we join them there will be six. If father and the rest have fair notice of their coming, they ought to be able to put every thing in good shape for a . It won't take them long to gather enough food to last for weeks, but how about water?"
 
"They have no water; our brothers know not why they should have it."
 
The Shawanoe meant to say that the men, seeing no reason why they should collect any store of water within their structure, never did so. It was at their door, and, when they wished to drink, they had but to stoop down and drink. Believing no such emergency as now threatened could arise, they failed to make any provision against it.
 
"I've been thinkin'," said Terry, "that404 bein' as how we started from Greville to j'in the Hunters of the Ozark, with the idaa of spindin' the winter with the same, that from the time we started we were mimbers of the same, but timporarily separated by a wide stritch of woods; what are yer own idaas?"
 
"I am not sure that I understand what you are trying to get at, but if you mean to say that we may call ourselves two of the Hunters of the Ozark, I see no objection if we are a few days behind the rest in reaching the runs."
 
"Oblige me by tistifying to the same," said Terry, rather , shoving his hand toward his friend, who suspended operations with the fish long enough to him.
 
The breakfast was quickly finished, and the boys helped each other with their knapsacks, caught up their guns and followed Deerfoot as he led the way back to the trail. He did not hint any thing about their failure to keep guard for him the night before, though they felt sure that they would hear from him at some time not very far distant.
 
When they found themselves following the path that had become so familiar, they glanced behind, half expecting to hear the Winnebago war and to see the warriors rushing after them; but not a living soul beside themselves was in sight, a............