not," said Howe, "but they act very suspiciously, prowling
about like beasts. Why don't they show themselves, if friendly? But,"
he continued, "if they want to skulk about, and pounce upon us, let
them take the consequences, our rifles do not miss fire."

"We had better use great precaution about wandering from camp, for a
few days, or they will carry all off while we are away. Perhaps it is
only a straggling war party returning home, and in a few days we will
be rid of them."

That night they retired, but Howe was too suspicious of treachery to
allow any one else to be sentinel but himself, and as he had slept a
while during the day, he was equal to the self-imposed task. As the
shades deepened, his practised ear detected sounds that others would
have thought little of, but which he considered, unmistakably to be
produced by the stealthy tread of Indians. As hour after hour went by,
shadows were flitting from tree to tree, and then Howe knew for a
certainty that the camp was surrounded by hostile foes.

Stealthily every one in the camp was awakened, and armed with rifles,
with the exception of Benny and Anne, who were placed in a secure
position. Mrs. Duncan and Jane could handle a rifle with as much
precision as was necessary to protect themselves in an emergency. Mr.
Duncan and Howe, disposed their little band so as to bring their arms
to bear on three different points from which they were certain, in case
of an attack, the foe would come, by the moving figures in the shadows
but dimly seen, but which could be traced by keeping the eye intently
fixed upon them.

"Make no movement or noise," was the order, "but at the first sound
from the savages, every one be ready to fire; probably when they find
their fire anticipated, they will retreat, if not, give them another
volley on the moment." They had stood in this position for half an
hour, when a single savage stept from behind a tree, advanced a yard or
two into the open glade that lay for a few rods around, and divesting
himself of his tomahawk, scalping knife, bow and arrows, laid them on
the ground, and after pointing at them, as if to draw attention to
them, advanced with finger on his lip towards the camp.

Howe had observed his movements, but when he saw him lay down his arms
and come towards them, he felt certain the Indian desired a conference.
Duncan thought it a ruse to draw some of them from the camp where the
ambushed Indians could make a sure target o