instead of carrying it down to the place
where Deerslayer lay, it was launched at the nearest favorable spot. As soon as
it was in the water, Hurry entered it, and paddled down to the point, whither
Hutter also proceeded following the beach. As the three men had now in their
possession all the boats on the lake, their confidence was greatly increased,
and there was no longer the same feverish desire to quit the shore, or the same
necessity for extreme caution. Their position on the extremity of the long,
narrow bit of land added to the feeling of security, as it permitted an enemy to
approach in only one direction, that in their front, and under circumstances
that would render discovery, with their habitual vigilance, almost certain. The
three now landed together, and stood grouped in consultation on the gravelly
point.
    »We've fairly tree'd the scamps,« said Hurry, chuckling at their success,
»and if they wish to visit the castle, let 'em wade or swim! Old Tom, that idee
of your'n, in burrowing out in the lake was high proof, and carries a fine bead.
There be men who would think the land safer than the water, but after all reason
shows it is'n't; the beavers, and 'rats, and other l'arned creatur's, taking to
the last, when hard pressed. I call our position, now, entrenched, and set the
Canadas at defiance.«
    »Let us paddle along this south shore,« said Hutter, »and see if there's no
signs of an encampment - but, first, let me have a better look into the bay, for
no one has been far enough round the inner shore of the point, to make sure of
that quarter, yet.«
    As Hutter ceased speaking all three moved in the direction he had named.
Scarce had they fairly opened the bottom of the bay, when a general start proved
that their eyes had lighted on a common object, at the same instant. It was no
more than a dying brand, giving out its flickering and failing light, but at
that hour, and in that place, it was at once as conspicuous as a good deed in a
naughty world. There was not a shadow of doubt that this fire had been kindled
at an encampment of the Indians. The situation, sheltered from observation on
all sides but one, and even on that except for a very short distance, proved
that more care had been taken to conceal the spot, than