a-ha. Sam come soon. Injun bimeby."

And in this Kitty was right, for in less than an hour Sam appeared
before them. He smiled as he entered the lodge, laid aside his musket,
and helped himself to some meat from a pot near the fire. As he ate,
he told about the slashers. They were not far away, and were waiting
to make the attack that night. How he learned this he did not explain,
and Jean asked no questions. It was sufficient for her that he knew,
and she had great respect for his knowledge of the ways of the wild,
and his practical common sense.

Slowly the afternoon edged into evening. The Indians were late in
coming, and often Sam cast anxious glances along the shore of the lake.
Several times he made short journeys into the forest, lest the enemy
should come upon them unawares. Jean, too, was greatly agitated.
Suppose the slashers should arrive, what could Sam do alone? What
would become of her? She recalled Dane's words that night at Portland
Point when he had saved her from Seth Lupin. "Do you know how
beautiful you are?" he had asked. "If you don't, then you are not
aware of your danger. That villain, Lupin, knows of your beauty, so he
followed you here. The slashers and others will soon know, too, and I
might not always be on hand." That was months ago, but she remembered
every word. She thought then that Dane had spoken rather plainly, and
had told him so. But she knew now how well he understood the risks she
would run, and that he was speaking for her welfare. Oh, if Dane and
the rangers were with her in the forest how soon they would put the
slashers to rout, and take her home. But they were far off, so her
only hope lay in the arrival of the Indians, from where she did not
know.

CHAPTER XX

TEMPERED PUNISHMENT

Darkness came, and with it the long-expected Indians. They were a
score in all, and they glided like spectres along the shore and up to
the lodge in the thicket. It was a joyous greeting they received as
they gathered around the fire, and for a few minutes there was a
regular babel of tongues, although Jean did not understand a word that
was being said. At length the visitors ceased talking and listened to
Sam, who spoke with great earnestness, and motioned at times eastward.
That he was speaking about the slashers, and why he had sent for
assistance, Jean was certain.

These newcomers were a sturdy and formidable band of hunters. They
were of powerful physique,