the cry that followed it so quickly as to blend the sounds。
The terrific war…whoop arose out of the covers of the
island； and some twenty savages； horrible in their paint
and the other devices of Indian ingenuity； rushed forward；
eager to secure the coveted scalps。 Arrowhead was fore…
most； and it was his tomahawk that brained the insensible
Jennie； and her reeking hair was hanging at his girdle as
a trophy in less than two minutes after she had quitted
the blockhouse。 His companions were equally active； and
M'Nab and his soldiers no longer presented the quiet as…
pect of men who slumbered。 They were left in their gore；
unequivocally butchered co rpses。
All this passed in much less time than has been required
to relate it； and all this did Mabel witness。 She had stood
riveted to the spot； gazing on the whole horrible scene； as
if enchained by some charm； nor did the idea of self or of
her own danger once obtrude itself on her thoughts。 But
no sooner did she perceive the place where the men had
fallen covered with savages； exulting in the success of their
surprise； than it occurred to her that Jennie had left the
blockhouse door unbarred。 Her heart beat violently； for
that defence alone stood between her and immediate death；
and she sprang toward the ladder with the intention of
descending to make sure of it。 Her foot had not yet
reached the floor of the second story； however； when she
heard the door grating on its hinges； and she gave herself
up for lost。 Sinking on her knees； the terrified but cour…
ageous girl endeavored to prepare herself for death； and
to raise her thoughts to God。 The instinct of life； how…
ever； was too strong for prayer； and while her lips moved；
the jealous senses watched every sound beneath。 When
her ears heard the bars； which went on pivots secured to
the centre of the door； turning into their fastenings； not
one； as she herself had directed； with a view to admit her
uncle should he apply； but all three； she started again to
her feet； all spiritual contemplations vanishing in her
actual temporal condition； and it seemed as if all her fac…
ulties were absorbed in the sense of hearing。
The thoughts are active in a moment so fearful。 At
first Mabel fancied that her uncle had entered the block…
house； and she was about to descend the ladder and throw
herself into his arms； then the idea that it might be an
Indian； who had barred the door to shut out intruders
while he plundered at leisure； arrested the movement。 The
profound stillness below was unlike the bold； restless move…
ments of Cap； and it seemed to savor more of the artifices
of an enemy。 If a friend at all； it could only be her uncle
or the Quartermaster； for the horrible conviction now pre…
sented itself to our heroine that to these two and herself
were the whole party suddenly reduced； if； indeed； the two
latter survived。 This consideration held Mabel in check；
and for full two minutes more a breathless silence reigned
in the building。 During this time the girl stood at the
foot of the upper ladder； the trap which led to the lower
opening on the opposite side of the floor； the eyes of
Mabel were riveted on this spot； for she now began to ex…
pect to see at each instant the horrible sight of a savage
face at the hole。 This apprehension soon became so in…
tense； that she looked about her for a place of conceal…
ment。 The procrastination of the catastrophe she now
fully expected； though it were only for a moment； afforded
a relief。 The room contained several barrels； and behind
two of these Mabel crouched； placing her eyes at an open…
ing by which she could still watch the trap。 She made
another effort to pray； but the moment was too horrible
for that relief。 She thought； too； that she heard a low
rustling； as if one were ascending the lower ladder with an
effort at caution so great as to betray itself by its own ex…
cess； then followed a creaking that she was certain came
from one of the steps of the ladder； which had made the
same noise under her own light weight as she ascended。
This was one of those instants into which are compressed
the sensations of years of ordinary existence。 Life； death；
eternity； and extreme bodily pain were all standing out in
bold relief from the plane of every…day occurrences； and
she might have been taken at that moment for a beautiful
pallid representation of herself； equally without motion
and without vitality。 But while such was the outward
appearance of the form； never had there been a time in
her brief career when Mabel heard more acutely； saw more
clearly； or felt more vividly。 As yet； nothing was visible
at the trap； but her ears； rendered exquisitely sensitive by
intense feeling； distinctly acquainted her that some one
was within a few inches of the opening in the floor。 Next
followed the evidence of her eyes； which beheld the dark
hair of an Indian rising so slowly through the passage that
the movements of the head might be likened to that of the
minute…hand of a clock； then came the dark skin and wild
features； until the whole of the swarthy face had risen
above the floor。 The human countenance seldom appears
to advantage when partially concealed； and Mabel imagined
many additional horrors as she first saw the black； roving
eyes and the expression of wildness as the savage counte…
nance was revealed； as it might be； inch by inch； but when
the entire head was raised above the floor； a second and a
better look assured our heroine that she saw the gentle；
anxious； and even handsome face of June。
CHAPTER XXII。
Spectre though I be；
I am not sent to scare thee or deceive；
But in reward of thy fidelity。
WORDSWORTH。
It would be difficult to say which evinced the most sat…
isfaction； when Mabel sprang to her feet and appeared in
the centre of the room； our heroine； on finding that her
visitor was the wife of Arrowhead； and not Arrowhead
himself； or June； at discovering that her advice had been
followed； and that the blockhouse contained the person
she had so anxiously and almost hopelessly sought。 They
embraced each other； and the unsophisticated Tuscarora
woman laughed in her sweet accents as she held her friend
at arm's length； and made certain of her presence。
〃Blockhouse good；〃 said the young Indian； 〃got no
scalp。〃
〃It is indeed good； June；〃 Mabel answered； with a shud…
der； veiling her eyes at the same time； as if to shut out a
view of the horrors she had so lately witnessed。 〃Tell me；
for God's sake； if you know what has become of my dear
uncle！ I have looked in all directions without being able
to see him。〃
〃No here in blockhouse？〃 June asked； with some curi…
osity。
〃Indeed he is not： I am quite alone in this place； Jen…
nie； the woman who was with me； having rushed out to
join her husband； and perishing for her imprudence。〃
〃June know； June see； very bad； Arrowhead no feel for
any wife； no feel for his own。〃
〃Ah； June； your life； at least； is safe！〃
〃Don't know； Arrowhead kill me； if he know all。〃
〃God bless and protect you； June！ He _will_ bless and
protect you for this humanity。 Tell me what is to be
done； and if my poor uncle is still living？〃
〃Don't know。 Saltwater has boat； maybe he go on
river。〃
〃The boat is still on the shore； but neither my uncle nor
the Quartermaster is anywhere to be seen。〃
〃No kill； or June would see。 Hide away！ Red man
hide； no shame for pale…face。〃
〃It is not the shame that I fear for them； but the op…
portunity。 Your attack was awfully sudden； June！〃
〃Tuscarora！〃 returned the other； smiling with exultation
at the dexterity of her husband。 〃Arrowhead great war…
rior！〃
〃You are too good and gentle for this sort of life； June；
you cannot be happy in such scenes？〃
June's countenance grew clouded； and Mabel fancied
there was some of the savage fire of a chief in her frown
as she answered；
〃Yengeese too greedy； take away all hunting…grounds；
chase Six Nation from morning to night； wicked king；
wicked people。 Pale…face very bad。〃
Mabel knew that； even in that distant day； there was
much truth in this opinion； though she was too well in…
structed not to understand that the monarch； in this； as
in a thousand other cases； was blamed for acts of which he
was most probably ignorant。 She felt the justice of the
rebuke； therefore； too much to attempt an answer； and
her thoughts naturally reverted to her own situation。
〃And what am I to do； June？〃 she demanded。 〃It
cannot be long before your people will assault this build…
ing。〃
〃Blockhouse good got no scalp。
〃But they will soon discover that it has got no garrison
too； if they do not know it already。 You yourself told
me the number of people that were on the island； and
doubtless you learned it from Arrowhead。〃
〃Arrowhead know；〃 answered June； holding up six fin…
gers； to indicate the number of the men。 〃All red men
know。 Four lose scalp already； two got 'em yet。〃
〃Do not speak of it； June； the horrid thought curdles
my blood。 Your people cannot know that I am alone in
the blockhouse； but may fancy my uncle and the Quarter…
master with me； and may set fire to the building； in orde