channel, ere they could reach a part of the rift that
admitted of wading. This portion of the enterprize was soon effected, and Jasper
and the Serpent struck the bottom, side by side, at the same instant. Having
secured firm footing, they took hold of each other's hands, and waded slowly and
with extreme caution, in the supposed direction of the canoe. But the darkness
was already so deep, that they soon ascertained they were to be but little aided
by the sense of sight, and that their search must be conducted on that species
of instinct which enables the woodsman to find his way, when the sun is hid, no
stars appear, and all would seem chaos to one less accustomed to the mazes of
the forest. Under these circumstances Jasper submitted to be guided by the
Delaware, whose habits best fitted him to take the lead. Still it was no easy
matter to wade amid the roaring element, at that hour, and retain a clear
recollection of the localities. By the time they believed themselves to be in
the centre of the stream, the two shores were discernible merely by masses of
obscurity denser than common, the outlines against the clouds being barely
distinguishable by the ragged tops of the trees. Once or twice the wanderers
altered their course in consequence of unexpectedly stepping into deep water,
for they knew that the boat had lodged on the shallowest part of the rift. In
short, with this fact for their compass, Jasper and his companion wandered about
in the water, for near a quarter of an hour, and at the end of that period,
which began to appear interminable to the young man, they found themselves
apparently no nearer the object of their search than they had been at its
commencement. Just as the Delaware was about to stop, in order to inform his
associate that they would do well to return to the land, in order to take a
fresh departure, he saw the form of a man, moving about in the water, almost
within reach of his arm. Jasper was at his side, and he at once understood that
the Iroquois were engaged in the same errand as he was himself.
    »Mingo!« he uttered in Jasper's ear - »The Serpent will show his brother how
to be cunning.«
    The young sailor caught a glimpse of the figure, at that instant, and the
startling truth also flashed on his mind. Understanding the necessity of
trusting all to the Delaware chief, he kept back, while his friend moved
cautiously in the direction in which the strange form had vanished. In another
moment