A little spring of cold water flowed from the edge of the islet
to lose itself quickly in the swamp. Henry drank there after his
breakfast, and then felt as strong and active as ever. As he
knew, the mind may triumph over the body, but the mind cannot
save the body without food. Then he made his precious bear meat
secure against the prowling panther or others of his kind, tying
it on hanging boughs too high for a jump and too slender to
support the weight of a large animal. This task finished
quickly, he left the swamp and returned toward the spot where lie
had seen the Mohawks.
The falling rain and the somber clouds helped Henry, in a way, as
the whole forest was enveloped in a sort of gloom, and he was
less likely to be seen. But when he had gone about half the
distance he heard Indians signaling to one another, and, burying
himself as usual in the wet bushes, he saw two small groups of
warriors meet and talk. Presently they separated, one party
going toward the east and the other toward the west. Henry
thought they were out hunting, as the Indians usually took little
care of the morrow, eating all their food in a few days, no
matter how great the supply might be.
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