h or
American girls."

"Do you make a distinction between the two?"

"Certainly. Aunty, here, is English, and I am American. Don't you
notice a difference between us?" answered Miss Audacity, saucily.

"I can only note that each is more charming in her own way than the
other," replied the lieutenant, gallantly.

Conversation was interrupted at this moment by the appearance of a
beach suitable for a landing, and the heading of the boat toward it. A
minute later it was run ashore, and the ladies were helped carefully
out, while the remaining bateaux were beached on either side in quick
succession.

A scene of orderly confusion immediately followed, as camp equipage of
every description was taken from the boats and carried to the place
where axemen were already at work clearing away underbrush or cutting
wood for the fires. Every one was in the highest of spirits, and the
gloomy forest rang with shouts and laughter; for was not this the last
camp? and would not the morrow witness the completion of their arduous
journey?

While their own little tent was being erected, the ladies, according to
their custom, sought relief from the cramped positions and long
confinement of the boat in a brisk walk up the beach. The darkening
shadows warned them not to go as far as usual, and at the end of a few
hundred yards they turned to retrace their steps.

Suddenly, without the warning of a sound to indicate a human presence,
they were surrounded by half a dozen dusky forms, that seemed to spring
from the very earth, their half-uttered cries were smothered by rude
hands clapped over their mouths, and before they realized what had
happened they were being hurried at a breathless pace through the
blackness of the forest.

They were not taken far, but on the edge of a small glade, or natural
opening, were allowed to sink at the foot of two trees, standing a yard
or so apart. To these they were securely bound, and then, as
mysteriously as they had appeared, their captors left them. So far as
the terrified women could judge from the evidence of their senses, the
forest was unpeopled save by themselves, though from the lake shore
they could still hear the cheerful shouts of those engaged in preparing
Cuyler's camp.

"Oh, my dear child! my poor dear child!" moaned the elder woman; "what
does it all mean? Oh, it is too terrible! Too awful!"

"Hush, aunty," answered the girl. "We are in the hands of the savages,
and God alo