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 building."

"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 fingers, 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 Quartermaster with me, and may set fire to the building,
in order to dislodge them. They tell me that fire is the great danger to
such places."

"No burn blockhouse," said June quietly.

"You cannot know that, my good June, and I have no means to keep them
off."

"No burn blockhouse. Blockhouse good; got no scalp."

"But tell me why, June; I fear they will burn it."

"Blockhouse wet--much rain--logs green--no burn easy. Red man know
it--fine t'ing--then no burn it to tell Yengeese that Iroquois been
here. Fader come back, miss blockhouse, no found. No, no; Indian too
much cunning; no touch anything."

"I understand you, June, and hope your prediction may be true; for, as
regards my dear father, should he escape--perhaps he is already dead or
captured, June?"

"No touch fader--don't know where he gone--water got no trail--red man
can't follow. No burn blockhouse--blockhouse good; got no scalp."

"Do you think it possible for me to remain here safely until my father
returns?"

"Don't know; daughter tell best when fader come back." Mabel felt uneasy
at the glance of June's dark eye as she uttered this; for the unpleasant
surmise arose that her companion was endeavoring to discover a fact
that might be useful to her own people, while it would lead to the
destruction of her parent and his party. She was about to make an
evasive answer, when a heavy push at the outer door suddenly drew all
her thoughts to the immediate danger.

"They come!" she exclaimed. "Perhaps, June, it is my uncle or the
Quartermaster. I cannot keep out even Mr.