ile of men and a corporal about half a mile off,
concealed in the bush. But Malachi, it is as well to let the Indian
know that he is only detained as a hostage, and, will be returned as
soon as the boy is sent back."

Malachi addressed the Indian in his own tongue, and told him what
Captain Sinclair requested.

"Tell him that there are several Indian women about the fort, who will
take any message he may send to the Angry Snake."

The Young Otter made no reply to anything said by Malachi, but looked
around him very impatiently.

"Be off as fast as you can," said Malachi, "for, depend upon it, the
Angry Snake was to meet him after his talk with me; I see it by his
wandering eye, and his looking round for assistance. I will go with
you, and return with Alfred and Martin, for I have no rifle."

"You can take mine, Malachi, as soon as we come up to the soldiers."

This was done in a few minutes. Captain Sinclair then took charge of
the Indian, and set off with his party for the fort. Malachi, Alfred,
and Martin returned to the house, and before they entered the prairie,
Martin detected the tall figure of an Indian at a short distance, in the
shade of the trees.

"Yes, I was sure of it," said Malachi. "It was well that I did not go
back without you. After all, in the woods, a man's no man without his
rifle."

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

JOHN'S DANGER.

Martin was right when he stated that he perceived the form of the Angry
Snake under the shade of the trees. The chief was then watching what
occurred, and had been witness to the capture of his emissary, and,
following those who had the Young Otter in charge, saw him conveyed to
the fort. In the meantime, Malachi, Martin, and Alfred went home,
without any suspicion being raised among the other branches of the
family of what had occurred. This gave them great satisfaction.

"Well, Malachi," said Alfred the next morning, as they were all busily
employed getting the seed into the cleared land, "what do you imagine
will be the steps now taken by the Angry Snake?"

"It's hard to say, sir," replied Malachi; "for he well deserves the name
of a snake, if, as the Scripture says, it is the subtlest thing on
earth: he will try all he can, you may be sure; and if it were not that
he is afraid of us, he would attack us immediately; but that I have no
idea that he will venture upon."

"No, for your letter says that he has only two rifles in his band, which
are not en