ath in that single moment than ever he imagined. Dernor's finger was
already pressing the trigger, when he saw directly behind the
approaching Indian the barrel of a rifle project from behind a tree and
then disappear again. This served to arrest his attention, and before
he renewed his aim the round face of O'Hara was thrust forth and
disappeared again. This led him to examine the face of the venturesome
Indian. A single glance and he recognized Oonamoo, the faithful Huron.
He instantly drew his rifle in, and the latter, understanding the
meaning of it, sprung nimbly forward, and with one bound cleared the
opposing barricades and came down beside the besieged Rifleman. The
latter grasped his hand and silently pressed it.

"Who is with you?" he asked, after relinquishing it.

"'Hara--short feller--legs like bent Injin's bow."

"Nobody else?"

"Nobody else," replied the Huron.

"You watch that side, then, Oonamoo, and I will attend to this."

"No watch this side--no Injin come here--all on toder side--me watch
with you--come round this side bime-by."

"Do as you please; you're an Injin and ought to understand them."

Oonamoo had been seen by the besieging savages as he bounded over the
logs, and, for a few minutes, they were puzzled to understand the
meaning of so singular an occurrence. Their first impression was that
one of their number, more daring than the others, had taken this
desperate means of getting at the Rifleman, and they listened intently
for sounds of combat and struggles between them; but, as moment after
moment passed without the silence being disturbed, their eyes were
opened to the fact that he had been reinforced by a formidable ally;
and this, too, when a little foresight on their part would have
prevented it. Having felt certain, previous to this, that the white man
had no friends in the vicinity, they had neglected to surround his
fort, so as to prevent their approach. To prevent any thing further
happening like this, a part of the band now proceeded to get on the
opposite side of him.

There was but one way in which this could be done without being menaced
by the rifles of the besieged party. Several of the Indians, being
careful to keep the protecting trees before them, slowly retreated
backward until they had gone far enough in the wood to be safe, when
they passed around and approached the fort from the opposite side. It
was not long before they became aware that the friend of the Rif