ty--" interrupted Judith, sensitively
alive to the preservation of her sister's secret, more, perhaps, at such
a moment, than at any other. "Hurry is well, and Deerslayer is well, and
the Delaware is well, too."

"How came they to shoot a poor girl like me, and let so many men go
unharmed? I didn't know that the Hurons were so wicked, Judith!"

"'Twas an accident, poor Hetty; a sad accident it has been! No one would
willingly have injured you."

"I'm glad of that!--I thought it strange; I am feeble minded, and the
redmen have never harmed me before. I should be sorry to think that they
had changed their minds. I am glad too, Judith, that they haven't hurt
Hurry. Deerslayer I don't think God will suffer any one to harm. It
was very fortunate the soldiers came as they did though, for fire will
burn!"

"It was indeed fortunate, my sister; God's holy name be forever blessed
for the mercy!"

"I dare say, Judith, you know some of the officers; you used to know so
many!"

Judith made no reply; she hid her face in her hands and groaned. Hetty
gazed at her in wonder; but naturally supposing her own situation was
the cause of this grief, she kindly offered to console her sister.

"Don't mind me, dear Judith," said the affectionate and pure-hearted
creature, "I don't suffer; if I do die, why father and mother are both
dead, and what happens to them may well happen to me. You know I am
of less account than any of the family; therefore few will think of me
after I'm in the lake."

"No, no, no--poor, dear, dear Hetty!" exclaimed Judith, in an
uncontrollable burst of sorrow, "I, at least, will ever think of you;
and gladly, oh! how gladly would I exchange places with you, to be the
pure, excellent, sinless creature you are!"

Until now, Captain Warley had stood leaning against the door of the
cabin; when this outbreak of feeling, and perchance of penitence,
however, escaped the beautiful girl, he walked slowly and thoughtfully
away; even passing the ensign, then suffering under the surgeon's care,
without noticing him.

"I have got my Bible here, Judith," returned her sister in a voice of
triumph. "It's true, I can't read any longer, there's something the
matter with my eyes--you look dim and distant--and so does Hurry, now
I look at him--well, I never could have believed that Henry March would
have so dull a look! What can be the reason, Judith, that I see so
badly, today? I, who mother always said had the best eyes in t