an. "Somebody set these
houses on fire while we slept within. Hark to that!"

An Iroquois some distance from the houses was bending over the snow
where it was not yet melted by the heat. He saw there the track of
snowshoes, and suddenly, looking toward the forest, whither they led, he
saw a dark figure flit away among the trees.

CHAPTER XVIII. HENRY'S SLIDE

Henry Ware, lingering at the edge of the clearing, his body hidden
behind one of the great tree trunks, had been watching the scene with
a fascinated interest that would not let him go. He knew that his work
there was done already. Everything would be utterly destroyed by the
flames which, driven by the wind, leaped from one half-ruined building
to another. Braxton Wyatt and his band would have enough to do
sheltering themselves from the fierce winter, and the settlements could
rest for a while at least. Undeniably he felt exultation as he witnessed
the destructive work of his hand. The border, with its constant struggle
for-life and terrible deeds, bred fierce passions.

In truth, although he did not know it himself, he stayed there to please
his eye and heart. A new pulse beat triumphantly every time a timber,
burned through, fell in, or a crash came from a falling roof. He laughed
inwardly as the flames disclosed the dismay on the faces of the Iroquois
and Tories, and it gave him deep satisfaction to see Braxton Wyatt, his
gaudy little sword at his thigh, stalking about helpless. It was while
he was looking, absorbed in such feelings, that the warrior of the alert
eye saw him and gave the warning shout.

Henry turned in an instant, and darted away among the trees, half
running, half sliding over the smooth, icy covering of the snow.
After him came warriors and some Tories who had put on their snowshoes
preparatory to the search through the forest for shelter. Several
bullets were fired, but he was too far away for a good aim. He heard one
go zip against a tree, and another cut the surface of the ice near him,
but none touched him, and he sped easily on his snowshoes through the
frozen forest. But Henry was fully aware of one thing that constituted
his greatest danger. Many of these Iroquois had been trained all
their lives to snowshoes, while he, however powerful and agile, was
comparatively a beginner. He glanced back again and saw their dusky
figures running among the trees, but they did not seem to be gaining. If
one should draw too near, there w