's
evident dismay. "And not only that, but he's the best fighter and best
man in the whole Ottaway tribe. They call him Songa, the strong heart,
and I consate Sir William would be passing glad to exchange one hundred
pounds of the king's money for his scalp to-morrow."

"Why don't you earn it, then?" asked, the other. "Surely one hundred
pounds could not be gained more easily, nor is it a sum of money to be
despised even by an independent American woods-ranger like yourself."

For answer the hunter rose slowly to his full height, and, holding a
candle above his head, so that its light shone full on the proprietor's
face, regarded him intently for a score of seconds.

"You don't mean it, Major Hester! Thank God, you don't mean it! for
your face belies your words, and proves you to be an honest man," he
said at length. "Ef I thought you meant what you just said, and was
one to tempt a poor man to commit a murder for the sake of gold, I
would never again sit at your table, nor set foot in your house, nor
look upon your face, nor think of you save with the contempt an honest
man must always feel for a villain."

"No, Truman. I did not mean what I said," replied the major, holding
out a hand that was heartily grasped by the other. "I spoke out of
curiosity to hear your reply, though I might have known it would have
the ring of true steel. Now I must return to my wife, and if you will
join us, after you have done what you can for this poor fellow, we will
consult concerning the situation, for it is no light thing to hold
Songa the Ottawa as prisoner in one's house."

CHAPTER III

TRUMAN FLAGG'S STORY

Truman Flagg was a son of one of those hardy New England families
which, ever pushing into the wilderness in the extreme van of
civilization, were the greatest sufferers from the forays of French and
Indians, who every now and then swept down from Canada, like packs of
fierce Northern wolves. In one of these raids his parents were killed,
and the lad was borne away to be adopted among the Caughnawagas, who
dwelt on the St. Lawrence, not far from Montreal. With these Indians
he lived for several years, and having a natural taste for languages,
acquired, during this time, a fair knowledge of the tongues of most of
the Northern tribes, as well as a smattering of French. He also became
well versed in woodcraft, and so thoroughly Indian in appearance and
habit that when he was again captured by a marauding pa