who has won the honor by some notable deed, may belong."

"But Donald was a child."

"Was he not by birth a warrior who could be naught but brave? and had
he not already, as you have just told, saved the life of a chief of the
Metai?" queried Ah-mo.

"True, so he had," asserted the major. "But what is this Metai of
which you speak?"

"Being a woman, I know but little of it," answered the Indian girl.
"It is a powerful order of much mystery extending over many tribes. It
is greatly feared by those who do not belong to it, while those who do
will aid each other in any extremity and to the full extent of their
powers. In it are many degrees of merit, and he who is its chief must
be obeyed by all who acknowledge its authority."

"Why, girl, you are describing free-masonry!" cried the major, who was
himself a master-mason. "Have the members of this Metai signs and
passwords by which they may recognize each other?"

"They have, but I know them not," replied Ah-mo.

"Of course not, seeing that you are a girl; but Pontiac is certain to
know something of this thing, and, if the mighty brotherhood that
encircles the world has indeed penetrated the American wilderness, then
will we settle this useless war in short order. By the way, Ah-mo, who
is the present chief of this magic circle? or is it not known to the
uninitiated?"

"It is known to all who care to know," replied the girl, proudly, "for
his name is Pontiac, and it is his own mark, which no other may use,
that encloses the all-seeing eye of the Metai on your son's arm."

"Whew-w-w," whistled the major, reflectingly. "So that is the secret
of Pontiac's wide-spread influence? Well, I must see and question him
about it to-morrow. Now, girls, leave me, for it is late, and Ah-mo's
revelations have given me much food for thought."

As he kissed his daughter good-night and blessed her, so he also, for
the first time, kissed Ah-mo and gave her his blessing, saying that she
was becoming as dear to him as an own daughter.

As the two girls crossed the space intervening between Major Hester's
quarters and the house in which they slept, Edith wondered that they
did not meet any of the guards who were generally so quick to note
every movement in that vicinity, especially at night. She was also
impressed with Ah-mo's unusual silence and her frequent starts at the
little noises made by birds or insects. When they reached their room,
the Indian girl sat by the open