en for the time in the
ascendant; but she had saved the captive's life, only in the hope of
making him _her_ captive. She had carried him to the copse, where he
had passed the night in her company--one moment caressed and entreated--
in the next reviled, and menaced with the most cruel death! In vain had
he looked for an opportunity to get away from her. Like a jealous
tigress had she watched him throughout the live-long night; and it was
only in the confusion, created by our sudden approach, that he had found
a chance of escape from the double guardianship in which he had been
held. All this was made known to me in a few hurried phrases.

Sure-shot! we were within speaking distance; but who could have
identified the Yankee in such a guise? The tricoloured escutcheon I had
myself so lately borne--the black face, shoulders, and arms--the white
circle on the breast--the red spot--all just as they had painted me!

"Jehosophet an' pigeon-pie!" cried he, as he saw us approach; "air it
yeou, capting? an' Wingrove, teoo!"

"Yes, brave comrade! Your shot has saved us all. Patience! we shall
soon set you free!"

Leaping down from our horses, we hurried up the sloping path. I was
still anxious about Sure-shot's safety; but in another moment, my
anxiety was at an end. He was yet unscathed. Like myself, he had
received some scratches, but no wound of a dangerous character. Like
myself, he had died a hundred deaths, and yet lived! His gleesome
spirit had sustained him throughout the dread ordeal. He had even joked
with his cruel tormentors! Now that the dark hour was past, his _jeux
d'esprit_ were poured forth with a continuous volubility. No; not
continuous. At intervals, a shadow crossed his spirit, as it did that
of all of us. We could not fail to lament the fate of the unfortunate
Hibernian.

"Poor Petrick!" said Sure-shot, as we descended the slope, "he weer the
joyfulest kimrade I ever hed, an' we must gi' him the berril o' a
Christyan. I wonder neow what on airth them verming lies done wi' him?
Wheer kin they have hid his body?"

"True--where is it? It was out yonder on the plain? I saw it there:
they had scalped him."

"Yees; they sculped him at the time we weer all captered. He weer lying
jest out theer last night at sundown. He ain't theer now; nor ain't a
been this mornin', or I'd a seed him. What do ees think they've done
wi' him anyhow?"

The disappearance of the body was singular enough