noon
We , however , managed to hunt as usual , as we could at the same time act as scouts , though we ran , it must be confessed , some risk of being caught by any hostile Indians who might be in the neighbourhood . Impunity , however , made us bold , and we were inclined to think that the threatened attack would never take place . The men continued cutting down trees , putting up fences , ploughing , and sowing , as regularly as before , though , by my father 's orders , they always carried their arms with them , and piled them close at hand , so as to be ready for instant use . Mr Tidey , Dan , and I had started on horseback one morning just before daybreak , agreeing to meet at noon at a certain spot about ten miles from the farm , by the side of a stream near a wood , where we could light our fire and cook any game we might have shot . I had had a successful morning 's sport , having shot a fawn , a couple of turkeys , and several small birds ; and at the hour agreed on I arrived with my horse well loaded at our proposed camp . Finding that the Dominie and my brother had not yet reached it , I collected sticks and lighted a fire , so that I might have dinner ready for them . While I was so employed , occasionally taking a look round in the expectation of seeing either the Dominie or Dan approaching , I was startled by discovering an Indian who had suddenly emerged from the wood about twenty paces off .