"Have
Indian mother--the old Madgitwa--in the big Indian village."

"Don't you know where you were born, Areotha?" questioned Parton.

The girl shook her head.

"Come up to the camp. I believe that you are true to our people. We have
a girl up there who will like you."

"Little Moccasin like her already," was the artless answer.

Having made her canoe fast to the bank by a rope of twisted sinews, the
mysterious girl followed Oscar Parton up the slope. He led her straight
to the encampment, where her unexpected appearance created much
excitement, and she was immediately surrounded.

Abel Merriweather was the first to question her, and Areotha was about
to reply when she caught sight of John Darknight, the guide.

The next moment every vestige of color fled from her face, and, staring
at the guide, she started back.

She looked like a person who had suddenly been confronted by a spectre.

At that moment John Darknight's face assumed a bold, defiant and
threatening aspect; but it was as white as Areotha's.

CHAPTER V.

A BRACE OF DESERTIONS.

With one accord the fugitives glanced from Little Moccasin to the guide.
They felt that the twain had met before, and that the present encounter
was unexpected and startling to each.

"What do you know about this girl?" said the settler to Darknight. "It
seems to me that this is not your first encounter with her."

"I should say that it wasn't," was the reply. "I had hoped that we would
reach our destination without meeting her, for her presence among white
emigrants or fugitives betokens danger. She is the witch of the
northwest territory, and many is the boat that she has decoyed ashore to
the rifle and the tomahawk. She doubtless recognized me, for I once
pitched her into the rapids of yon river, and if she had her deserts now
our rifles would rid the territory of its witch, though I know it is
hard to kill a woman."

"Abel, she must not stay here if she is to betray us to death," said the
settler's wife, fast upon the guide's last words.

"Not so fast, mother," interrupted Kate Merriweather, with sympathy in
her dark eyes for the lone girl. "Remember that we have listened to but
one side of the story--Mr. Darknight's; now let us hear what she has to
say in her defense."

"Oh, she's a cute one, and you'll hear the sleekest story ever told in
these parts," the guide said.

But Kate Merriweather did not appear to have heard him.

"You have listened to