a direction from that they had
recently pursued, he beheld the identical mound he had ascended before
dark, and from which his unsteady and erratic riding in the night had
fortunately prevented a distant separation. They now led their horses
forth, and mounting without delay, whipped forward for life or death.
Could the summit of the mound be attained they were in safety--for
there the soil was not encumbered with decayed vegetation--and they
spurred their animals to the top of their speed. It was a noble sight
to see the majestic white steed flying towards the mound with the
velocity of the wind, while the diminutive pony miraculously followed
in the wake like an inseparable shadow. The careering flames were not
far behind; and when the horses gained the summit and Glenn looked
back, the fire had reached the base!

"I thank all the saints at once!" exclaimed Joe, dismounting and
falling on his knees.

"Thank your pony's legs, also," remarked Glenn, smiling.

"Was there ever such a blessed deliverance!" said Joe, panting.

"Was there ever such a lucky tumble into a ditch!" replied Glenn, with
spirits more buoyant than usual.

"Was there ever an old hunter so much deceived!" said a voice a few
paces down that side of the cone least exposed to the glare of the
fire, and so much in the shadow of the peak that the speaker was not
perceived from the position of the young men. But as soon as the words
were uttered, Ringwood and Jowler sprang from the horses' heels where
they had lain panting, and rushed in the direction of the speaker,
whom they accosted with marks of joyful recognition.

"It is Boone!" exclaimed Glenn, leaping from his horse, and running
forward to his friend, who was now seen to rise up, and a moment after
his horse, that had been prostrate and still, was likewise on his
feet.

"Ha! ha! ha! You have played me a fine trick, truly," laughingly
remarked Boone, returning their hearty salutations.

"How?" inquired Glenn.

"In the first place, to venture forth before my arrival; in the next
to inspire me with the belief that I was on the eve of encountering a
brace of Indians. But I will begin at the beginning. When I crossed
the river and reached your hut, (which is indeed impregnable,) I was
astonished to find you had gone forth to hunt without a guide; and not
so much fearing you would be lost, should night overtake you, as
apprehending serious danger from the fire, the approach of which I
anticipa