anguage. I begged him to remain
until the return of my uncle and his companion. This, after some
pressing, he consented to do, and to show his confidence in me, having
rolled his blanket around him, he lay down before the fire, and was soon
fast asleep.

Knowing that he would be very glad of more food on awaking, I spitted a
double supply of venison and bear's flesh. Sooner than I had expected,
Uncle Denis and Dan made their appearance.

As they approached the camp Kluko started to his feet, even in his sleep
hearing their footsteps. They were much astonished on seeing him, but
still more so on learning the object of his visit.

My uncle tried to recollect whether he had ever seen Kluko before, but
the Indian asserted that they had never met. He remained with us until
the following morning; then, charging us earnestly not to forget his
warning, took his departure.

Early in the day the Dominie and two of the men arrived with the horses,
which we at once loaded and set off as fast as possible on our return
home.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

OUR HOMESTEAD--MY SISTER AND LILY LOST--ANXIETY OF THE BLACK NURSE--WE
SET OFF TO TRY AND FIND THEM--FOLLOWING UP THE TRAIL--TRACKS FOUND--DIO
PUSHES AHEAD--ON THE SHORES OF THE LAKE--APPEARANCE OF A CANOE--WE
DETERMINE TO TAKE THE OCCUPANTS PRISONERS--THE CAPTURE--ROSE ACTING AS
GUARD--THE WHITE MAN SECURED--I RECOGNISE AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE--THE WAY
WE TREATED HIM--SEARCHING ALONG THE LAKE SHORE, WE COME UPON AN
ENCAMPMENT--OVERHEAR THE CONVERSATION--OUR PRESENCE DISCOVERED--EFFECTS
OF THE WAR-WHOOP--FLIGHT OF THE PARTY WITH DIO--THE MIDNIGHT PURSUIT--AN
UNLOOKED-FOR REINFORCEMENT--RELEASE OF THE BLACK--OUR PRISONERS--LYNCH
LAW--A VILLAINOUS PLOT REVEALED--WE ARRIVE AT SMILING VALLEY FARM.

We were approaching the farm with our packages of skins and meats; Dio
and I had hurried on ahead, as I was anxious to inform my father of the
intelligence we had received from the Indian. The house, perched on the
side of a hill, was already in sight, and very picturesque it looked,
with the stream flowing below it, and backed by ranges of mountains
towering one beyond the other, the more distant capped by eternal snows.
Evening was approaching, but the sun still tinged the eastern slopes
and the summits of the tall trees with a ruddy glow, when we caught
sight of a person running towards us.

"Why! dat is Rose?" exclaimed Dio; "what she want?"

As she got near us I saw that her countena