would not be understood. This
means, therefore, was not even attempted.

The besieged Rifleman of course kept himself invisible. He had become
aware, when within a mile or so of the present spot, that he was again
pursued by his unrelenting enemies, and making all haste thither, had
thrown the logs together as compactly and securely as the time allowed
him would permit. He had brought down one of his assailants, and they
in turn had buried some twenty balls in the logs around him, without
inflicting injury upon either Edith or himself.

In the hope of giving his leader an inkling of the condition of
affairs, O'Hara uttered a whistle, so perfect an imitation of the call
of a certain bird, that the suspicious Shawnees and Miamis failed to
notice it. Pausing a few moments, he repeated it, and then awaited the
action of Oonamoo. Whether Dernor had caught the signal or not, of
course his friends had no means of judging; but the Huron, knowing that
if he had not his own death was certain, now coolly made the desperate
attempt he had decided upon.

Securely sheltered behind his log-fort, Dernor stood with cocked rifle
awaiting his chance to pick off one of his enemies. Every faculty was
absorbed in this, and he scarcely removed his eye once from the spot
where he knew they were collected. He was aware of their exact number,
as he was also of the fact that Girty, the renegade, was not among
them. His lips were compressed, a dark scowl had settled upon his face,
and it would have been easy for any one to have read the iron
determination of his heart. He was at bay, it was true, and he was not
ignorant of the desire of the savages to gain possession of him. He
said nothing to Edith of the resolve he had made, but she needed no
telling to understand it. So long as life remained, her defender would
never desert her.

He was standing thus, gazing stealthily out through a loophole, when
Edith, who was watching every portion of the clearing, placed her hand
on his shoulder and told him that an Indian was stealing toward them
from the side opposite to that on which their enemies were collected.
As quick as thought Dernor wheeled around, pointed his rifle out and
took aim at the approaching savage. The latter saw the movement,
understood fully its cause, and yet made no attempt to escape, relying
entirely upon the chances of the Rifleman discovering his identity
before firing. His faith was rewarded, although Oonamoo came nigher
de