to be quiet; "I
go."

The chief was as good as his word, and Duncan now found himself alone in
that wild and desolate abode, with the helpless invalid, and the fierce
and dangerous brute. The latter listened to the movements of the Indian
with that air of sagacity that a bear is known to possess, until another
echo announced that he had also left the cavern, when it turned and came
waddling up to Duncan, before whom it seated itself, in its natural
attitude, erect like a man. The youth looked anxiously about him for
some weapon, with which he might make a resistance against the attack he
now seriously expected.

It seemed, however, as if the humor of the animal had suddenly changed.
Instead of continuing its discontented growls, or manifesting any
further signs of anger, the whole of its shaggy body shook violently, as
if agitated by some strange internal convulsion. The huge and unwieldy
talons pawed stupidly about the grinning muzzle, and while Heyward kept
his eyes riveted on its movements with jealous watchfulness, the grim
head fell on one side, and in its place appeared the honest, sturdy
countenance of the scout, who was indulging from the bottom of his soul,
in his own peculiar expression of merriment.

"Hist!" said the wary woodsman, interrupting Heyward's exclamation of
surprise; "the varlets are about the place, and any sounds that are not
natural to witchcraft would bring them back upon us in a body."

"Tell me the meaning of this masquerade; and why you have attempted so
desperate an adventure."

"Ah! reason and calculation are often outdone by accident," returned the
scout. "But as a story should always commence at the beginning, I will
tell you the whole in order. After we parted I placed the commandant and
the Sagamore in an old beaver lodge, where they are safer from the
Hurons than they would be in the garrison of Edward, for your high
northwest Indians, not having as yet got the traders among them,
continue to venerate the beaver. After which Uncas and I pushed for the
other encampment, as was agreed; have you seen the lad?"

"To my great grief! he is captive, and condemned to die at the rising of
the sun."

[Illustration: _Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons_

THE MASQUERADER

_The grim head fell on one side, and in its place appeared the honest,
sturdy countenance of the scout_]

"I had misgivings that such would be his fate," resumed the scout, in a
less confident and joyous tone. Bu