ithout noise John Darknight came over the hill, and
inaugurated a series of cat crawls toward the spot which he had lately
deserted. Once or twice he glanced at the settler, whose drooping head
appeared to tell him that he still slept, for he recommenced his crawls,
and at last, without disturbing his sleeping companions, regained his
buffalo skin.

But his movements had not escaped the sentry's eyes, and Carl was
regarding him from the boat. The father was a prey to great perplexity;
he believed that the guide's movements indicated treason, but he did not
know what course to pursue. To discharge him at once might precipitate
the bursting of the plot. To keep him longer and watch, seemed the
better plan, and was the one which the settler felt inclined to adopt.
He did not see how they could ascend the river above the rapids without
Darknight's experience, for in the voyage thus far his assistance had
proved invaluable.

The night was far advanced and day was no longer remote, when Abel
roused Oscar Parton, whose duty it was to stand guard until daylight. He
did not impart his suspicions to the impetuous young man, but told him
not to close his eyes for a moment, but to watch, for life was at stake.
Then, instead of lying by the boat that contained his family, he dropped
upon the ground beside the suspected guide, and with a hand at the hilt
of his knife, watched the man who was sleeping heavily.

A bird call from the guide's lips, or a suspicious movement, and he
might have forfeited his life.

"Father doesn't want to suspect anybody," murmured the boy Carl, who was
surprised to see John Darknight sleeping so soundly in the camp after
his meeting with Oskaloo on the banks of the river. "I do not know how
he came to undertake this trip. We might have been safe where we lived.
I know we are not here. He didn't tell Oscar about the treason, for I
heard every word that passed between them. Maybe he doesn't think I saw
straight. Well, I know I wasn't very close; but I would swear that it
was the guide talking to the Indian, and didn't he come up the bank
after the redskin left? I have a rifle, and I am going to watch John
Darknight myself!"

Having thus delivered himself of his thoughts, Carl Merriweather
continued to watch in silence, and he saw that the night was wearing
away.

Oscar Parton was wakeful. No sound escaped his ears, and he saw the
river growing darker with the dense gloom that precedes the dawn.

The