successive reverberations up and down
the river, and over the low wood land opposite. The owls and wolves
were hushed; and as the watchful sentinels cast their eyes over the
snow, on which the calm rays of the moon rested in repose, there was
not the least indication of the presence of a dangerous foe.

Joe leant against the palisade, holding with one hand the breech of
his gun, while the barrel was thrust through the loophole, and seemed
to be indulging in a peculiar train of reflections.

"Now, I'd much rather be in Philadelphia," said he, in a voice but
little louder than a, whisper, and unconscious of giving utterance to
his thoughts--"a great deal rather be there--in some comfortable
oyster-cellar--than standing out here in the lone wilderness, up to my
knees in snow, and expecting every minute to have a poisoned arrow
shot through my head. Hang it all! I wonder what pleasure Mr. Glenn
can enjoy here? Suppose, now, while I'm standing here thinking, an
arrow should dart over the, other side, and stick five or six inches
into me? I hope they keep a careful look-out. And that reminds me that
I ought to keep an eye out myself, for fear some one may he pinked
from my side." He applied his eye to the hole, and continued in the
same strain: "I don't see a single living thing; maybe they've all
gone off. If they have, I'll deserve all the credit, for I'm the only
person that shot at them. And I don't think that long hatchet-face
Sneak will think that I'm a coward any more. But these savages are
strange beings; I had no more idea that the bush hid an Indian than
that there's one not ten feet off now, under the snow. And if we
hadn't found him out he might have crawled up and shot me in the eye
through this hole. I won't hold my eye here all the time!" said he,
rising, and to his astonishment Sneak stood at his elbow, whither he
had glided softly, his quick ear having caught the hum of Joe's
soliloquy, and his curiosity leading him to find out the meaning of
the mysterious jargon of his companion-in-arms.

"Of all the men I ever saw you are the dod-rottedest!" exclaimed
Sneak, after staring at him a few moments in silent wonderment, and
then striding back to his post.

"I should like to hear that sentence parsed," said Joe, looking after
him.

The hours wore on in peace, until midnight, when a low chattering,
like that of a squirrel, was heard in the valley below; while a shrill
whistling, resembling that of quails was