aimed it as his
property pulled off his plumed head-dress and, adjusting the wig upon
his own head, front backward, stalked proudly around, with the long
curls dangling over his face.

It was altogether a curious scene, and, under other circumstances, might
have amused me. There was something irresistibly comic in the puzzled
looks of the actors; but I had been too deeply affected by the tragedy
to laugh at the farce. There was too much of horror around me. Seguin
perhaps dead; she gone for ever, the slave of the brutal savage. My own
peril, too, at the moment; for I knew not how soon I might be discovered
and dragged forth. This affected me least of all. My life was now of
little value to me, and so I regarded it.

But there is an instinct, so-called, of self-preservation, even when the
will ceases to act. Hopes soon began to shape themselves in my mind,
and along with these the wish to live. Thoughts came. I might organise
a powerful band; I might yet rescue her. Yes! even though years might
intervene, I would accomplish this. She would still be true! She would
never forget!

Poor Seguin! what a life of hope withered in an hour! he himself sealing
the sacrifice with his blood!

But I would not despair, even with his fate for a warning. I would take
up the drama where he had ended. The curtain should rise upon new
scenes, and I would not abandon the stage until I had accomplished a
more joyous finale; or, failing this, had reached the denouement of
death or vengeance.

Poor Seguin! No wonder he had been a scalp-hunter. I could now
understand how holy was his hate for the ruthless red man. I, too, had
imbibed the passion.

With such reflections passing hastily--for the scene I have described,
and the sequent thoughts, did not occupy much time--I turned my eyes
inwards to examine whether I was sufficiently concealed in my niche.
They might take it into their heads to search the shaft.

As I endeavoured to penetrate the gloom that extended inwards, my gaze
became riveted on an object that caused me to shrink back with a cold
shudder. Notwithstanding the scenes I had just passed through, this was
the cause of still another agony.

In the thick of the darkness I could distinguish two small spots, round
and shining. They did not scintillate, but rather glistened with a
steady greenish lustre. I knew that they were eyes!

I was in the cave with a panther, or with a still more terrible
companion