in, and
she said it with unshaken voice. Bryce was to remain to guard the home,
for there was no knowing what the result of the attack on Old Ti might
be.

The alarming intelligence brought by Colonel Allen had its effect upon
the younger members of the family as well as on the older, for late in
the afternoon Harry came running to his mother with the information that
there was a man lurking in the forest across the creek. The child had
seen the stranger twice and being fearful that the man was there for no
good purpose was much troubled. The older boys were in the field at
work, but when the widow blew the horn Enoch came up to learn the cause,
for it was not yet supper time. Hearing Harry's report he seized his
rifle and went to the creek bank, approaching the spot very carefully,
for he feared at once that their enemy, Simon Halpen, might have dared
follow him from Westminster.

He had scarcely reached the creek, however, when he was apprised of the
identity of the visitor. A head, in the black locks of which a tuft of
eagle feathers was fastened, appeared above the bushes, and the next
moment the person thus betrayed came out into full view and beckoned
him. It was Crow Wing who had approached the Harding place through the
forest. Enoch leaped into his own boat and paddled across, remembering
the Indian's promise the year before to visit him at some time for the
purpose of examining the vicinity of the spot where Jonas Harding had
been slain.

CHAPTER XVII

THE CLOVEN HOOF

The grave face of the young Indian brave was undisturbed by a smile as
he greeted the white youth whom he had not seen for more than a year.
But he shook Enoch's hand with an emphatic "Umph!" when the latter
sprang ashore.

"Crow Wing!" exclaimed young Harding. "I thought you had forgotten us in
these parts. You've been away a long time."

"Umph! Injin no forget friends," remarked Crow Wing, sententiously.

"And you've come here to see me--'way from Lake George?"

"Umph!" was again the non-committal answer. "Harding and Crow Wing go
hunt,--shoot deer? Crow Wing need new moccasins," and he thrust forward
one foot on which was a ragged covering. But Nuck knew well enough the
Indian had not traveled through the wilderness from Lake George merely
for the pleasure of going on a deer hunt with him. But he said,
doubtfully: "We're pretty busy just now, Crow Wing. Can't go far with
you."

"Not go far. Plenty deer yonder," and he poi