neither trembling nor yielding； and only betraying its not
being a part of the wall by rattling a little on its heavy
hinges； her courage revived； and she seized the first mo…
ment of a cessation to look down through the loop； in
order； if possible； to learn the extent of her danger。 A
silence； for which it was not easy to account； stimulated
her curiosity； for nothing is so alarming to those who are
conscious of the presence of imminent danger； as to be
unable to trace its approach。
Mabel found that two or three of the Iroquois had been
raking the embers； where they had found a few small coals；
and with these they were endeavoring to light a fire。 The
interest with which they labored； the hope of destroying；
and the force of habit； enabled them to act intelligently
and in unison； so long as their fell object was kept in
view。 A white man would have abandoned the attempt
to light a fire in despair； with coals that came out of the
ashes resembling sparks； but these children of the forest
had many expedients that were unknown to civilization。
By the aid of a few dry leaves； which they alone knew
where to seek； a blaze was finally kindled； and then the
addition of a few light sticks made sure of the advantage
that had been obtained。 When Mabel stooped down over
the loop； the Indians were making a pile of brush against
the door； and as she remained gazing at their proceedings；
she saw the twigs ignite； the flame dart from branch to
branch； until the whole pile was cracking and snapping
under a bright blaze。 The Indians now gave a yell of
triumph； and returned to their companions； well assured
that the work of destruction was commenced。 Mabel re…
mained looking down； scarcely able to tear herself away
from the spot； so intense and engrossing was the interest
she felt in the progress of the fire。 As the pile kindled
throughout； however； the flames mounted； until they
flashed so near her eyes as to compel her to retreat。 Just
as she reached the opposite side of the room； to which she
had retired in her alarm； a forked stream shot up through
the loophole； the lid of which she had left open； and illu…
minated the rude apartment； with Mabel and her desola…
tion。 Our heroine now naturally enough supposed that her
hour was come； for the door； the only means of retreat；
had been blocked up by the brush aud fire； with hellish in…
genuity； and she addressed herself； as she believed； for the
last time to her Maker in prayer。 Her eyes were closed；
and for more than a minute her spirit was abstracted； but
the interests of the world too strongly divided her feelings
to be altogether suppressed； and when they involuntarily
opened again； she perceived that the streak of flame was
no longer flaring in the room； though the wood around
the little aperture had kindled； and the blaze was slowly
mounting under the impulsion of a current of air that
sucked inward。 A barrel of water stood in a corner； and
Mabel； acting more by instinct than by reason； caught up
a vessel； filled it； and； pouring it on the wood with a
trembling hand； succeeded in extinguishing the fire at that
particular spot。 The smoke prevented her from looking
down again for a couple of minutes； but when she did
her heart beat high with delight and hope at finding that
the pile of blazing brush had been overturned and scat…
tered； and that water had been thrown on the logs of the
door； which were still smoking though no longer burn…
ing。
〃Who is there？〃 said Mabel； with her mouth at the
loop。 〃What friendly hand has a merciful Providence
sent to my succor？〃
A light footstep was audible below； and one of those
gentle pushes at the door was heard； which just moved the
massive beams on the hinges。
〃Who wishes to enter？ Is it you； dear； dear uncle？〃
〃Saltwater no here。 St。 Lawrence sweet water；〃 was
the answer。 〃Open quick； want to come in。〃
The step of Mabel was never lighter； or her movements
more quick and natural； than while she was descending
the ladder and turniug the bars； for all her motions were
earnest and active。 This time she thought only of her
escape； and she opened the door with a rapidity which did
not admit of caution。 Her first impulse was to rush into
the open air； in the blind hope of quitting the blockhouse；
but June repulsed the attempt； and entering； she coolly
barred the door again before she would notice Mabel's
eager efforts to embrace her。
〃Bless you！ bless you； June！〃 cried our heroine most
fervently； 〃you are sent by Providence to be my guardian
angel！〃
〃No hug so tight；〃 answered the Tuscarora woman。
〃Paleface woman all cry； or all laugh。 Let June fasten
door。〃
Mabel became more rational； and in a few minutes the
two were again in the upper room； seated as before； hand in
hand； all feeling of distrust between them being banished。
〃Now tell me； June；〃 Mabel commenced as soon as she
had given and received one warm embrace； 〃have you seen
or heard aught of my poor uncle？〃
〃Don't know。 No one see him； no one hear him； no
one know anyt'ing。 Saltwater run into river； I t'ink； for
I no find him。 Quartermaster gone too。 I look； and
look； and look； but no see' em； one； t'other； nowhere。〃
〃Blessed be God！ They must have escaped； though the
means are not known to us。 I thought I saw a French…
man on the island； June。〃
〃Yes： French captain come； but he go away too。
Plenty of Indian on island。〃
〃Oh； June； June； are there no means to prevent my be…
loved father from falling into the hands of his enemies？〃
〃Don't know； t'ink dat warriors wait in ambush； and
Yengeese must lose scalp。〃
〃Surely； surely； June； you； who have done so much for
the daughter； will not refuse to help the father？〃
〃Don't know fader； don't love fader。 June help her
own people help Arrowhead husband love scalp。〃
〃June； this is not yourself。 I cannot； will not believe
that you wish to see our men murdered！〃
June turned her dark eyes quietly on Mabel； and for a
moment her look was stern； though it was soon changed
into one of melancholy compassion。
〃Lily； Yengeese girl？〃 she said； as one asks a question。
〃Certainly； and as a Yengeese girl I would save my
countrymen from slaughter。〃
〃Very good； if can。 June no Yengeese； June Tusca…
rora got Tuscarora husband Tuscarora heart Tuscarora
feeling all over Tuscarora。 Lily wouldn't run and tell
French that her fader was coming to gain victory？〃
〃Perhaps not；〃 returned Mabel； pressing a hand on a
brain that felt bewildered； 〃perhaps not； but you serve
me； aid me have saved me； June！ Why have you done
this； if you only feel as a Tuscarora？〃
〃Don't only feel as Tuscarora； feel as girl； feel as squaw。
Love pretty Lily； and put it in my bosom。〃
Mabel melted into tears； and she pressed the affectionate
creature to her heart。 It was near a minute before she
could renew the discourse； but then she succeeded in
speaking more calmly and with greater coherence。
〃Let me know the worst； June；〃 said she。 〃To…night
your people are feasting； what do they intend to do to…
morrow？〃
〃Don't know； afraid to see Arrowhead； afraid to ask
question； t'ink hide away till Yengeese come back。〃
〃Will they not attempt anything against the block…
house？ You have seen what they can threaten if they
will。〃
〃Too much rum。 Arrowhead sleep； or no dare； French
captain gone away； or no dare。 All go to sleep now。〃
〃And you think I am safe for this night； at least？〃
〃Too much rum。 If Lily like June； might do much
for her people。〃
〃I am like you； June； if a wish to serve my countrymen
can make a resemblance with one as courageous as your…
self。〃
〃No； no； no！〃 muttered June in a low voice； 〃no got
heart； and June no let you； if had。 June's moder pris…
oner once； and warriors got drunk； moder tomahawked
'em all。 Such de way red skin women do when people in
danger and want scalp。〃
〃You say what is true；〃 returned Mabel； shuddering；
and unconsciously dropping June's hand。 〃I cannot do
that。 I have neither the strength； the courage； nor the
will to dip my hands in blood。〃
〃T'ink that too； then stay where you be blockhouse
good got no scalp。〃
〃You believe； then； that I am safe here； at least until
my father and his people return？〃
〃Know so。 No dare touch blockhouse in morning。
Hark！ all still now drink rum till head fall down； and
sleep like log。〃
〃Might I not escape？ Are there not several canoes on
the island？ Might I not get one； and go and give my
father notice of what has happened？〃
〃Know how to paddle？〃 demanded June； glancing her
eye furtively at her companion。
〃Not so well as yourself； perhaps； but enough to get
out of sight before morning。〃
〃What do then？ couldn't paddle six ten eight
mile！〃
〃I do not know； I would do much to warn my father；
and the excellent Pathfinder； and all the rest； of the dan…
ger they are in。〃
〃Like Pathfinder？〃
〃All like him who know him you would like him； nay；
love him； if you only knew his heart！〃
〃No like him at all。 Too good rifle too good eye
too much shoot Iroquois and June's people。 Must get his
scalp if can。〃
〃And I must save it if I can； June。 In this