d you
may have to wait a long time for that."

Effie felt the expected parting with Sybil more than any one else. She
was also anxious, and as much out of spirits as it seemed possible for
so happy a creature to be, for Hector had naturally told her that Allan
Keith had gone to obtain reinforcements for the garrison of the fort,
and had expressed his surprise that they had not long before this
arrived.

On his first arrival a room had been assigned to Isaac Sass, and he had
been invited to the captain's table, when, notwithstanding his rough
appearance, he showed that he was a man of good education, though
ignorant of the events which had of late taken place in the world. He
generally sat opposite to Sybil, and it was remarked that his eyes were
often fixed intently on her, but that he withdrew them whenever he saw
that he was observed. He would follow her about the fort, or when she
went out to walk in its immediate neighbourhood, as if wishing to watch
over her safety, and when he occasionally addressed her his voice
assumed a softness contrasting greatly with the somewhat harsh tone in
which he ordinarily spoke.

"If ever angels come on earth, that sweet sister of yours is one of
them," he remarked to Hector one day, while he stood watching Sybil at a
distance.

"I will tell her what you say," answered Hector, laughing. "And I'll
ask her if she is really one. Perhaps she may be, for, do you know that
she is not my sister?" and Hector told him the story of her discovery.

Isaac Sass made no reply, but seemed to be pondering deeply on what he
had heard.

He continued to watch Sybil with even greater interest than before, and
managed to obtain from Captain Mackintosh a confirmation of the account
Hector had given him. He said nothing, however, in reply; but his
manner showed that he was laying some restraint on himself, during the
remainder of the time he remained at Fort Duncan.

Although Captain Mackintosh paid him every attention, grateful to him
for the service he had rendered, the old man, however, appeared at
length to grow weary of inactivity, and began to speak of taking his
departure with Greensnake for the north.

"It is seldom nowadays that I come near the country of the Blackfeet,"
he said, addressing Captain Mackintosh. "It may be a long time before
you see me here again. It may be I shall never return; but I shall
often think of the time I spent with you and your English friends."

Befo