victorious huzzas of his band were answered in like
manner by the besieged, who came forth and gave them a cordial
welcome. Never, perhaps, when they met, did hand grasp hand more
heartily. But Mary, who had hitherto cast aside all the weaker fears
of the woman, no sooner beheld her aged father in safety than she
rushed into arms and fainted on his breast.

CHAPTER V.

A strange excursion--A fairy scene--Joe is puzzled and frightened--A
wonderful discovery--Navigation of the upper regions--A crash--No
bones broken.

Several weeks had elapsed since the incidents recorded in the last
chapter. The repulse of the Osages was succeeded by the arrival of a
war-party of Pawnees, and a deadly feud existing between these tribes,
the latter readily joined the whites, and speedily chased the enemy
far beyond the settlements. Boone had returned to his family on the
other side of the river; and Sneak, having made peace with Joe, had
likewise withdrawn to his own domicil, to pursue his avocations of
hunting and trapping in solitude.

Glenn sat before a blazing fire in his little castle, his left hand
clasping a closed book he had been reading, while his dextral elbow
was resting on the rude arm of a chair which he had constructed and
cushioned with furs, and his palm supported his chin. He thus sat
silently, looking steadfastly through one of the little square windows
at the snow-encrusted branches of the trees beyond the inclosure, and
apparently indulging a pleasing train of reflections.

Joe, on the contrary, was engaged in boisterous and mirthful exercise
on the deep and frozen snow without. He was playing with the kitten,
the fawn, and the hounds, and occasionally ran into the stable to
caress the horses.

At length, with no other object than a dreamy impulse to wander among
the wild scenes in the vicinity, Glenn started up, and donning a warm
overcoat and seizing his rifle, set out along the cliff up the river,
(a direction which he had never yet traversed,) accompanied by Joe,
who seemed to look upon his master's pale composed face, and
determined though gentle motions, with curiosity, if not mystery.

"Why do you stare at me so often?" inquired Glenn, pausing, after they
had walked some distance in silence.

"Because I don't know what you're after," replied Joe.

"You'll see what I'm after," said Glenn, setting forward, and
continuing his course along the cliff.

A snow of several feet in depth rested on