-at all events, I did
not hear its conclusion; and know not to this hour what he meant to have
proposed. His speech was interrupted, and his voice drowned, by the
shrill neighing of my horse--who seemed startled at some sound from the
forest. Almost at the same instant, I heard a responsive neigh, as if
it were an echo from behind me. I heeded neither the one nor the other.
I saw that the birds were aroused from their lethargic attitude. Some
of them appeared as if pressing upon their limbs to spring upwards from
the tree. The deadly moment had come!

With my rifle raised almost to the level, I glanced rapidly towards my
antagonist. His piece was also raised; but, to my astonishment, he
appeared to be grasping it mechanically, as if hesitating to take aim!
His glance, too, showed irresolution. Instead of being turned either
upon myself or the vultures, it was bent in a different direction, and
regarding with fixed stare some object behind me! I was facing round to
inquire the cause, when I heard close at hand the trampling of a horse;
and, almost at the same instant, an exclamation, uttered in the silvery
tones of a woman's voice. This was followed by a wild scream; and,
simultaneously with its utterance, I beheld a female form springing over
the bars! It was that of a young girl, whom I recognised at a glance.
It was she I had encountered in the forest!

I had not time to recover from my surprise before the girl had glided
past me; and I followed her with my eyes, as she ran rapidly over the
space that separated me from the squatter. Still mute with surprise, I
saw her fling herself on the breast of my antagonist--at the same time
crying out in a tone of passionate entreaty: "Father, dear father! what
has _he_ done? Mercy! O mercy!"

Good God! _her_ father? Holt _her_ father?

"Away, Lil!" cried the man in a peremptory tone, removing her arms from
his neck. "Away, gurl! git ye from, hyur!"

"No, father! dear father! you will not? What does it mean? What has
_he_ done? Why are you angry with _him_?"

"Done! gurl? He's called me _coward_; an' 'ud drive us out o' house an'
home. Git ye gone, I say! Into the house wi' ye!--away!"

"Mercy! O father, have mercy! Do not kill him. He is brave--he is
beautiful! If you knew--"

"Brave! beautiful?--gurl, yur ravin'! What do you know about him?
Ye've niver seed him afore?"

"Yes, dear father! only an hour ago. If you but knew--it was he who
sa