elf to an erect posture, with a look of resignation,
he said:

"I--I can bear it now--for I know he's in Heaven. Stay here, Mr.
Reynolds, till I come back;" and he turned abruptly away.

In a few minutes Isaac returned--his features calm, but very pale--and
silently motioned the other to follow him. On their way to the cottage,
they had to cross the common, where their progress was greatly impeded
by a crowd of persons, who, having heard of Algernon's arrival, were
deeply anxious to gather what tidings he might have concerning the
movements of the Indians. In reply, he informed them of the threats made
by Girty to him while a captive; and that, having since been a prisoner
of the British at Detroit, he had learned, from reliable sources, that
a grand army of the Indians was forming to march upon the frontiers,
attack some stronghold, and, if possible, desolate the entire country
of Kentucky; and that he believed they were already on their way.

"More'n that, they're already here," cried a voice; "for it's them, I
'spect, as has attacked Hoy's Station, of which we've just got news, and
are gitting ready to march at daylight and attack them in turn. Arm,
boys, arm! Don't let us dally here, and be lagging when the time comes
to march and fight!"

With this the speaker turned away, and the crowd instantly dispersed to
resume their occupations of preparing for the coming expedition, while
our hero and Isaac pressed forward to the cottage of Mrs. Younker. At
the door they were met by the good dame herself, who, with eyes wet with
tears, caught the proffered hand of Reynolds in both of hers, pressed it
warmly in silence, and led him into the house. Ella, who was seated at a
short distance, on the entrance of Algernon, rose to her feet, took a
step forward, staggered back, and the next moment her insensible form
was caught in the arms of the being she loved, but had long mourned as
dead.

[Footnote 19: This happened in June, 1782. For particulars of Crawford's
disastrous campaign, and horrible fate--_See Howe's Ohio_, p. 542.]

CHAPTER XVI.

THE ALARM AND STRATAGEM.

It was late at night; but still Algernon Reynolds sat beside Ella
Barnwell, relating the sad story of his many hair-breadth escapes and
almost intolerable sufferings. A rude sort of light, on a rough table, a
few feet distant, threw its faint gleams over the homely apartment, and
revealed the persons of Isaac and his mother, his wife and her pare