scattered, and that water had been thrown on the logs of
the door, which were still smoking though no longer burning.

"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 turning 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. "Pale-face 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 Frenchman 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 beloved 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