dication, as understood by June, rather showed that it was the
intention of the Indians to keep it besieged until the return of the
Sergeant's party, lest, the signs of an assault should give a warning
to eyes as practised as those of Pathfinder. The boat, however, had been
secured, and was removed to the spot where the canoes of the Indians
were hid in the bushes.

June now announced her intention to join her friends, the moment being
particularly favorable for her to quit the blockhouse. Mabel felt some
distrust as they descended the ladder; but at the next instant she
was ashamed of the feeling, as unjust to her companion and unworthy of
herself, and by the time they both stood on the ground her confidence
was restored. The process of unbarring the door was conducted with the
utmost caution, and when the last bar was ready to be turned June took
her station near the spot where the opening must necessarily be. The bar
was just turned free of the brackets, the door was opened merely wide
enough to allow her body to pass, and June glided through the space.
Mabel closed the door again, with a convulsive movement; and as the bar
turned into its place, her heart beat audibly. She then felt secure; and
the two other bars were turned down in a more deliberate manner. When
all was fast again, she ascended to the first floor, where alone she
could get a glimpse of what was going on without.

Long and painfully melancholy hours passed, during which Mabel had no
intelligence from June. She heard the yells of the savages, for liquor
had carried them beyond the bounds of precaution; and occasionally
caught glimpses of their mad orgies through the loops; and at all times
was conscious of their fearful presence by sounds and sights that would
have chilled the blood of one who had not so lately witnessed scenes so
much more terrible. Toward the middle of the day, she fancied she saw a
white man on the island, though his dress and wild appearance at first
made her take him for a newly-arrived savage. A view of his face,
although it was swarthy naturally, and much darkened by exposure, left
no doubt that her conjecture was true; and she felt as if there was now
one of a species more like her own present, and one to whom she might
appeal for succor in the last emergency. Mabel little knew, alas!
how small was the influence exercised by the whites over their savage
allies, when the latter had begun to taste of blood; or how slight,
inde