t yourself, at least help a poor fellow, whose
ideas are like a skein of tangled silk, to avoid the bilboes."

"Assuredly, if you wish, what I can I will do to facilitate thy
escape. Only tell me how."

"You have me there in a Cornish hug," said Philip. "An' I knew, I had
not asked."

"You would not have us fight for our liberty?"

"I am not so crazy as that. Ten to one is odds that any one, except
Sampson, might avoid without disgrace, and even he would not stand
much chance, for all his bushy head, when bullets were flying."

"We must out-manoeuvre them by some stratagem."

"If Sassacus were here," said Philip, "he could show us the way. There
is not a tree or a rock but would have something to say to him about a
contrivance."

"What would you think, Philip," asked Arundel, (the direction of
Sassacus to sound the notes of the robin, whenever he desired to see
him, occurring to his mind,) "were I to conjure up the Chief?"

"I would think thee more cunning than any powah of them all, and,
moreover, advise thee to keep out of the way of the elders and
magistrates."

"Keep quiet a moment, and I will try my powahing."

So saying, the young man whistled the peculiar notes of the bird,
which, in the dewy silence of night, rung wide through the Woods.

"Halt!" cried Spikeman, who instantly suspected some treachery. "Close
up around the prisoners. Who dared make those sounds?"

No answer was returned; and, after a vain attempt to discover their
author, the party resumed its march.

"If your powahing has done no other good, Master Arundel," said
Philip, "it at least frightened the General."

"I am a beginner," answered the young man, jestingly, "and it would
not be surprising should I fail at first. If it raise not the sagamore
or one of his men before we reach the open space, I will try the spell
again."

But the notes had struck the quick ears of the Pequot chief, and at
their sound he bounded forward at a pace which his companions vainly
endeavored to equal, and which shortly left them out of sight; but
they could hear the rustling he made tearing through the bushes, and,
guided by it, followed. The noise occasioned by the movements of so
large a party, and the conversation among them, prevented the approach
of the sagamore being heard, especially as when he drew nearer he
proceeded with more caution. Gliding from tree to tree, he was able to
advance quite close without being discovered. What was the rage