It need not be said that Fred Godfrey improved his opportunity to the utmost.  
Having the Senecas who were so close behind him, it was not likely he would run any risk of being caught on their return. In fact, he might have considered himself beyond danger, and yet the narrowest escape of all occurred only a few minutes .
 
Anxious to gain the utmost time possible, he was picking his way with great care, when he stepped upon a stone that turned under his foot, and he narrowly escaped falling.
 
Immediately he caught a birdlike call near him, and his quick wit told him it was a signal from one of the searching for him.
 
Fred made an turn, and going a rod or two, halted as before—that is beneath a large tree, and stood close against the trunk.
 
And thus, he noticed the same sound once more, this time answered from a point directly behind him.
 
He could do nothing but stand still, and he knew how to do that equal to a living statue. Only a few yards in front was an open space, where the moonlight revealed objects without exposing himself to observation.
 
Thus it was that the youth detected two Indians, who came out of the wood on the other side and stopped, as if they were posing for . They talked for some minutes in their own tongue, gesticulating earnestly and then walked toward him.
 
He quickly shifted his position to the other side of the tree and peered around, but, when they came into the shadow, nothing could be seen of them.
 
"I believe they know where I am," thought he, "and are amusing themselves at my expense."
 
Such seemed to be the case, for once more the red men stopped and were actually within reach of him. Since the arms of the latter were still fastened behind him, it can well be understood how he discovery, his chief fear being that the painful of his heart would betray him.
 
But the good fortune that had attended him on the other side the river did not desert him now. The Senecas about him only a minute or two and then moved away, this time taking a direction that led toward the camp-fire—an indication that they had given up the pursuit.
 
Pausing only long enough for them to pass beyond hearing, Fred resumed his flight, with the same care he had used from the first.
 
He was now more hopeful than ever, but almost instantly received another warning that it is never safe to shout until you are "out of the woods."
 
He judged he was two hundred yards from the camp-fire which he had left so hurriedly, when he found himself in such darkness that he once more stopped until he could gather some idea of his location and of the points of the compass.
 
Listening closely, he caught the gentle flow of the small waterfall and of the Susquehann............