had observed their fire, he had roused Roy and
Nelly and hurried with them to the summit of a rocky eminence, from
which stronghold they now anxiously watched the proceedings of the
hunters. The spot to which they had fled for refuge was almost
impregnable, and might have been held for hours by a couple of resolute
men against a host of savages.

Robin, after a little further consultation, resolved to send the Black
Swan in advance to reconnoitre. This he did, contrary to his wonted
custom of taking the lead in everything, because of an unaccountable
feeling of dread lest he should not find his children there.

Black Swan at once stepped cautiously forward with his rifle, ready
cocked, in the hollow of his left arm, and his finger on the
trigger-guard. Step by step he moved towards the encampment without
making the slightest noise, and with so little motion that he might
easily have been mistaken for a dark shadow. Raising his head over the
edge of the encampment he gazed earnestly into it, then he advanced
another pace or two, finally he stepped into it, and, standing erect,
looked around him. With a wave of his hand he summoned his comrades to
advance. Robin Gore's heart beat hard as he approached, followed by the
others.

Meanwhile they were closely watched by Roy and Wapaw. When the Black
Swan's head appeared, Roy exclaimed in a whisper, "An Injun--d'ye know
him, Wapaw?"

"He is one of our tribe, I think," replied the Indian, in the same low
voice, "but I know him not; the light of the fire is not strong."

"If he's one o' your tribe," said Roy, "it's all up with us, for they
won't be long o' findin' us here. Keep close to me, Nell. I'll stick
by you, lass, don't fear."

Wapaw's brows lowered when he saw the Black Swan step into the
encampment, and make the signal to his comrades to advance. He raised
his rifle, and took deliberate aim at his heart.

"Roy," he whispered, "get an arrow ready, aim at the next man that steps
into the light and let fly; I'll not fire till after you, for the smoke
would blind you."

Roy obeyed with a trembling hand. Notwithstanding the rough life he had
led in those wild woods of the West, he had never yet been called on to
lift his hand against a human being, and the thought of taking life in
this deliberate and almost murderous way caused him to shudder; still he
felt that their case was desperate, and he nerved himself to the deed.

Another moment, and Robin stoo