es not choose to give his name," observed Martin; "and, therefore,
he is here for no good. Mr Alfred, just fetch Malachi; he will know
him, I dare say."

Alfred went to the house for Malachi; in the meantime the Indian
remained motionless, with his eyes fixed upon the different articles
exposed to view.

"It's strange," observed Martin, "how he could have come here; but to be
sure neither Malachi nor I have been out lately."

Just as he had finished his remark, Alfred returned with Malachi.
Malachi looked at the Indian and spoke to him.

The Indian now replied in the Indian language.

"I knew him, sir," said Malachi, "the moment I saw his back. He's after
no good, and it's a thousand pities that he has come just now and seen
all this," continued Malachi; "it's a strong temptation."

"Why, who is he?" said Mr Campbell.

"The Angry Snake, sir," replied Malachi. "I had no idea that he would
be in these parts before the meeting of the Injun council, which takes
place in another month, and then I meant to have been on the look-out
for him."

"But what have we to fear from him?"

"Well, that's to be proved; but this I can say that he has his eyes upon
what appears to him of more value than all the gold in the universe; and
he's anything but honest."

"But we have nothing to fear from one man," observed Alfred.

"His party an't far off, sir," said Malachi. "He has some followers,
although not many, and those who follow him are as bad as himself. We
must be on the watch."

Malachi now addressed the Indian for some time. The only reply was an
"Ugh."

"I have told him that all the powder and ball that he sees are for our
rifles, which are more than are possessed by his whole tribe. Not that
it does much good, but, at all events, it's just as well to let them
know that we shall be well prepared. The crittur's quite amazed at so
much ammunition; that's a fact. It's a pity he ever saw it."

"Shall we give him some?" said Mr Campbell.

"No, no, sir; he would only make use of it to try to get the rest;
however, I believe that he is the only one of his party who has a rifle.
The best thing is to close the doors and then he will go."

They did as Malachi requested, and the Indian, after waiting a short
time, turned round on his heel, and walked away.

"He is a regular devil, that Angry Snake," observed Malachi, as he
watched him departing; "but never mind, I'll be a match for him. I wish
he'd never seen a