ll, that dare come up into the camp of
Ishmael Bush, without asking leave of his children!"

"Stir not, Paul; for your life keep beneath the rock!"

Ellen was interrupted by the same bright vision, which on the preceding
day had stayed another scarcely less portentous tumult, by exhibiting
itself on the same giddy height, where it was now seen.

"In the name of Him, who commandeth all, I implore you to pause--both
you, who so madly incur the risk, and you, who so rashly offer to take
that which you never can return!" said a voice, in a slightly foreign
accent, that instantly drew all eyes upward.

"Inez!" cried the officer, "do I again see you! mine shall you now
be, though a million devils were posted on this rock. Push up, brave
woodsman, and give room for another!"

The sudden appearance of the figure from the tent had created a
momentary stupor among the defendants of the rock, which might, with
suitable forbearance, have been happily improved; but startled by the
voice of Middleton, the surprised Phoebe discharged her musket at the
female, scarcely knowing whether she aimed at the life of a mortal or
at some being which belonged to another world. Ellen uttered a cry of
horror, and then sprang after her alarmed or wounded friend, she knew
not which, into the tent.

During this moment of dangerous by-play, the sounds of a serious attack
were very distinctly audible beneath. Paul had profited by the commotion
over his head to change his place so far, as to make room for Middleton.
The latter was followed by the naturalist, who, in a state of mental
aberration, produced by the report of the musket, had instinctively
rushed towards the rocks for cover. The trapper remained where he was
last seen, an unmoved but close observer of the several proceedings.
Though averse to enter into actual hostilities, the old man was,
however, far from being useless. Favoured by his position, he was
enabled to apprise his friends of the movements of those who plotted
their destruction above, and to advise and control their advance
accordingly.

In the mean time, the children of Esther were true to the spirit they
had inherited from their redoubtable mother. The instant they found
themselves delivered from the presence of Ellen and her unknown
companion, they bestowed an undivided attention on their more masculine
and certainly more dangerous assailants, who by this time had made a
complete lodgment among the crags of the citadel.