a loud
voice.

"What is the matter?" interrogated Glenn, from his station on the
north.

"Why, that feller's crept into the house agin," replied Sneak.

"Well, but he's come out again," said Joe, reappearing, and walking
reluctantly to his loophole.

"What did you go in for?" demanded Glenn.

"I just wanted to tell Miss Mary that the two oarsmen that helped us
to bury Posin were gone over the river, and were safe."

"Did she ask for this information?" inquired Glenn.

"No, not exactly," responded Joe; "but I thought if I was uneasy about
the young men myself, that she, being more delicate than a man, must
be considerably distressed."

"A mere subterfuge! See that you do not leave your post in future,
under any circumstances, without permission to do so."

"I won't," replied Joe, peering through his loophole.

Matters remained quiet for a great length of time, and Glenn began to
hope that even Boone had been mistaken. But Boone himself had no
doubts upon the subject. Yet he seemed far more affable and cheerful
than he did before the plan of resistance was formed in his mind.
Occasionally he would walk round from post to post, and after scanning
the aspect without, direct the sentinels to observe closely certain
points, trees or bushes, where he thought the enemy might first be
seen. He never hinted once that there was a possibility of escaping an
attack, and the little party felt that the only alternative was to
watch with diligence and act with vigor and resolution when assailed.

"Do you think they are now in this immediate neighbourhood?" inquired
Glenn.

"They are not far off, I imagine," replied Boone; and calling the
hounds from the stable, he continued, "I can show you in which quarter
they are." The hounds well understood their old master. At his bidding
they snuffed the air, and whining in a peculiar manner, with their
heads turned towards the west, the vicinity of the savages was not
only made manifest, but their location positively pointed out.

"I was not aware, before, of the inestimable value of your gift," said
Glenn, gazing at the hounds, and completely convinced that their
conduct was an unerring indication of the presence of the foe.

"Eh! Ringwood!" exclaimed Boone, observing that his favorite hound now
pointed his nose in a northern direction and uttered a low growl.
"Indeed!" he continued, "they have got in motion since we have been
observing the hounds. I was not mistaken. Even wh