They left the cabin and journeyed on; slept in the woods that night and the next. There had been several feasts of berries; they saw some green plums and green wild grapes, but neither were tempting. Now, some way, it seemed as if they had lost their reckoning. The river certainly was to the west of them.
"And we must go southward." said Wawataysee.
Their good fortune had failed them to-day. They had found nothing. They were tired and hungry. And if they were lost!----
They turned into an opening. Here ran a clear creek, at which they quenched their thirst.
"Let us follow it some distance at least. It must go to the river. It has quite a current."
It suddenly widened out and grew larger as they went on. They glanced at each other in dismay.
"If it goes to the river, how can we cross so wide a stream? Could either of us swim with the child? I think it would be better to go back and cross where it is narrower."
So they retraced their steps and found that it was fed by a rivulet on the other side, almost hidden by the grass. Valbonais paused a moment to enjoy the picture. Everywhere the most serene quiet. Songs of birds, the call of some animal, the rustle of a deer and the brown, startled eyes gazing at one. The green of the foliage with its light and varying shades, the long stretches of wild grass dotted with various-colored flowers, and here and there a silvery streak of sand like a silver ribbon.
On and on, the creek growing narrower. The man's eyes caught sight of a young fallen tree.
"I think I can bridge it over. Let me try this," and he dragged the tree to the edge, stood it up, letting it fall with some force. It just touched the opposite shore.
"Now if I could find another. Why did I not capture a hatchet in my raid on the Indians!"
"The water is clear and deep," said Wawataysee; "too deep for one to wade."
"I could cross it with the child. Still I will see if there is not another dead tree."
This time it was a larger one. It took their united strength to raise it, but it went straight across, making quite a promising bridge.
"Would you dare?" He glanced at the Indian girl with an assurance of her courage.
"Would I dare?" She laughed melodiously. Then she looked steadily at it a moment, started like an arrow from a bow and in a flash was across.