ation
that the boy is alive, at least it is presumed so; but of course the
Indians do not know that we have received such information; if they did,
the woman would be killed immediately. Now, sir, the first question we
must ask ourselves is, why they have carried off the boy; for it would
be no use carrying off a little boy in that manner without some object."

"It is the very question that I was going to put to you, Malachi."

"Then, sir, I'll answer it to the best of my knowledge and belief. It
is this: the Angry Snake came to the settlement, and saw our stores of
powder and shot, and everything else. He would have attacked us last
winter if he had found an opportunity and a chance of success. One of
his band was killed, which taught him that we were on the watch, and he
failed in that attempt; he managed, however, to pick up the boy when he
was lagging behind us, at the time that you were wounded by the painter,
and carried him off, and he intends to drive a bargain for his being
restored to us. That is my conviction."

"I have no doubt but that you are right, Malachi," said Alfred, after a
pause. "Well, we must make a virtue of a necessity, and give him what
he asks."

"Not so, sir; if we did, it would encourage him to steal again."

"What must we do then?"

"Punish him, if we can; at all events, we must wait at present, and do
nothing. Depend upon it we shall have some communication made to us
through him that the boy is in their possession, and will be restored
upon certain conditions--probably this spring. It will then be time to
consider what is to be done."

"I believe you are right, Malachi."

"I hope to circumvent him yet, sir," replied Malachi; "but we shall
see."

"Well; but Malachi, are we to let this be known to anybody, or keep it a
secret?"

"Well, sir, I've thought of that; we must only let Martin and the
Strawberry into the secret; and I would tell them, because they are
almost Indians, as it were; they may have someone coming to them, and
there's no fear of their telling. Martin knows better, and as for the
Strawberry, she is as safe as if she didn't know it."

"I believe you are right; and still what delight it would give my father
and mother!"

"Yes, sir, and all the family too, I have no doubt, for the first hour
or two after you have told them; but what pain it would give them for
months afterwards! `Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,' as my father
used to read out of