Still his composure was little
disturbed outwardly, for during the silent repast he maintained the air of
a dignified warrior, rather than that of a man whose air could be much
affected by inward sorrow. When nature was appeased, they both arose,
and continued their route through the pathless forest.
For an hour after quitting the spring, the progress of our two adventurers
was swift, and uninterrupted by any passing observation or momentary
pause. At the end of that time, however, the speed of Conanchet began to
slacken, and his eye, instead of maintaining its steady and forward
direction, was seen to wander with some of the appearance of indecision.
"Thou hast lost those secret signs by which we have so far threaded the
woods," observed his companion; "one tree is like another, and I see no
difference in this wilderness of nature; but if thou art at fault, we may
truly despair of our object."
"Here is the nest of the eagle," returned Conanchet, pointing at the
object he named perched on the upper and whitened branches of a dead pine;
"and my father may see the council-tree in this oak--but there are no
Wampanoags!"
"There are many eagles in this forest, nor is that oak one that may not
have its fellow.
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