were two bright
points visible through the thick brush so closely curled round, while
directly after the dog's ears seemed to prick up.

If there had been a watcher he would in all probability have attributed
this to fancy, consequent upon the faint glow which came and went about
the embers, as the wind sighed round the lonely hut; for shadows
darkened, and various objects grew more or less defined.

Then all idea of want of reality would have passed away, for the dog
suddenly and silently sprang to his feet, took a step or two towards the
door, and then stood with his head turned on one side, listening.

He remained perfectly motionless for quite a minute, as the glow from
the fire grew less and less till he was almost invisible. Then suddenly
throwing up his head, he uttered a low, deep-toned bark, which brought
the cousins from their beds, each seizing upon the rifle laid ready.

"What is it, Scruff?" cried Dallas. "Some one there?"

There was another deep-toned bark, and the dog sprang to the door and
rose up on its hind-legs, tearing at the rug which covered it until it
fell.

Scruff stood there with his head on one side, listening for some
minutes, during which the silence was painful in the extreme. Dallas
had sprung to one side of the door, Abel to the other, and they stood
close up to the rough walls, the only place where they could be in
safety, for there they were beyond the vision of any one who peered
through the shuttered window or the apertures of the door left exposed
by the tearing down of the rough hanging.

The simplest thing, and an act which would have left them more freedom,
would have been to have quenched the fire at once. But there was no
water at hand, and there was sufficient light from the glowing embers to
expose every movement to an enemy without.

They stood there with every nerve on the strain, listening, while the
dog whined uneasily, took a trot round the fire, and returned to the
door, to stand with his head on one side again.

"There must be some one out there," whispered Abel.

Dallas nodded, and made a sign to his cousin to be silent, for the dog
whined uneasily again, turning to the young man, thrusting his muzzle
against his hand, and looking up at him as if waiting for orders. The
next moment he was at the door again, and reared up with his paws
against the bar, at which he tore as if to get it down, so that he might
go out into the night.

"Here, I know," cried