emain here alone."

"Nevertheless, here you stay," I retorted shortly, thoroughly
exasperated by his continued childishness; "you are in no spirit to
meet the perils yonder. Conquer your foolishness, Monsieur, for I know
well 't is not part of your nature so to exhibit fear."

"'T is naught alive that I so shrink from; never have I been affrighted
of living man."

"True; nor have I ever found the dead able greatly to harm. But now I
go forth to a plain duty, and you must wait me here."

I did not glance back at him, although I knew he had sunk dejected on a
bench beside the door; but with careful look at the priming of my
rifle, I stepped forth into the open, and started down the slight slope
leading to the river. A fringe of low, straggling trees hid my
movements from observation by possible watchers along the southern
bank; nor could I perceive with any definiteness what was going on
there. The fires had died down somewhat, and I thought the savage
yelling and clamor were considerably lessened.

I confess I went forward hesitatingly, and was doubtful enough about
the outcome; but I saw no other means by which I might hope to locate
Mademoiselle definitely, and I valued my own life now only as it
concerned hers. The selfish cowardice of De Croix--if cowardice it
truly was--served merely to stir me to greater recklessness and daring,
and I felt ready to venture all if I might thereby only pluck her from
the grasp of those red fiends. As I crept through the fringe of bushes
which lined the bank, my eyes were on the darkened upper extremity of
the Indian camp, and all my thoughts were concentrated upon a plan of
entrance to it. I may have been somewhat careless, for I had no
conception of any serious peril until after I had crossed the stream,
and it certainly startled me to hear a voice at my very elbow,--a
strange voice, beautifully soft and low.

"You have the movement of an Indian; yet I think you are white. What
seek you here?"

I turned quickly and faced the speaker, my rifle flung forward ready
for action. The light was poor enough there amid the shadows, yet the
single glimpse I had told me instantly I faced the mysterious woman of
the Indian camp. For a moment I made no response, held speechless by
surprise; and she questioned again, almost imperatively.

"I asked, why are you here?"

"I am one, by the grace of God, spared from the massacre," I answered
blindly. "But you?--I saw you within t