ile distant, on the
edge of a small clearing, stood the remains of a log fort. This was
subjected to a most searching scrutiny by both, but, for a time, O'Hara
discovered nothing unusual in its appearance.

"He's dere--he and the gal," said Oonamoo, pointing toward the pile of
logs.

"How do you know that? Have you seen him?"

"See now what he done--he's dere. Look agin."

"I've looked at them logs ever since we've been standing here, but
hain't seen Lew or the gal yet."

"Eber seen logs afore?"

"Have I ever seen them logs before? Yes, often."

"How they look when last see him?"

"The same as they do now, I believe."

"Sure?" asked Oonamoo, in a tone that revealed all to O'Hara. He now
looked again toward the remains of the log-fort, and understood at once
the meaning of the Huron's question. He had passed by the spot during
the preceding autumn, and noticed that the logs were scattered and
thrown down, as if a tornado had passed over the spot. Now, however,
there was system in their arrangement--proof sure that the hand of man
had been employed upon them. The Huron had seen them scarcely a week
before, and knew that all these changes had been made since--that, in
fact, Lewis Dernor had made them, and at that moment was standing at
bay behind them.

While yet they were looking, they saw something gleam for an instant in
the sunlight, and then disappear as if drawn behind the logs.

"That was Lew's rifle," said O'Hara. "He always keeps the barrel
polished up so that it nearly blinds a person to shoot."

"'Sh! look."

At the point where they had witnessed the movement of this bright
object, they now saw a red jet of flame spout out, a wreath of blue
smoke arise, and then came the report of a rifle.

"There's one red-skin the less," said O'Hara. "When Lew pulls trigger,
_something_ is sure to go under."

"Want us there," said Oonamoo, starting down the ridge on his peculiar
trot, and moving off toward what may now properly be termed a fort.
Upon coming in its vicinity, both exercised the greatest caution in
their movements, knowing, as they did, that it was besieged by their
deadly enemies. A half-hour's reconnoitering by both showed that there
were ten Indians, exclusive of one dead one, collected at one end of
the clearing, where each, safely ensconced behind a tree, was patiently
waiting for a shot at the Rifleman, whom they now at last believed they
had fairly cornered.

Upon witnessing this cond