A SUDDEN WAKE-UP. 129 



head, while the glimmer of the dying embers of our 

 camp-fire through the trees rendered the scene doubly 

 lonely. I returned, and seizing the axe, soon had a 

 bright and crackling fire sending its light over the 

 sleepers. The sparks, borne higher and higher by the 

 wind, danced about in the forest, and shed a clear 

 light on a noble white hound that lay sleeping in 

 careless ease at the foot of a tree. Tall trunks stood 

 column-like and still, on every side— gradually grow- 

 ing dimmer and dimmer, till lost in a mass of black- 

 ness, and contrasting strangely with the motion and 

 roar of the tops, through which the wind swept in fitfnl 

 gusts. Again I stretched myself on the ground, and 

 woke no more till light was dawning in the east, and 

 then with a shudder and start as though a tomahawk 

 were gleaming over my head. The Indian's dog had 

 crawled upon me, and lay heavily along my body, his 

 head resting on my bosom, his mouth to my mouth, 

 while a low growl which issued from his chest, 

 startled the Indian by my side. I never was so struck 

 with the alertness of an Indian. I am not slow to 

 wake myself, especially in a case like this ; but 

 before I opened my eyes, Mitchell was on his feet ; 



and as T looked i\]), I saw him standing over ma with 

 6* 



