ile we were speaking
they divided their strength. One party is even now moving round to the
east, and at a given signal the other will attack us on the west,
precisely as I predicted. See! Ringwood turns gradually."

"And you think the greatest danger is to be apprehended from those on
the east?" said Glenn.

"Yes," said Boone, "for the others cannot approach near enough to do
much injury without exposing themselves to great peril."

"But how can you ascertain that they will cut a passage under the
snow, and the precise direction in which they will come?"

"Because," said Boone, "we are situated near the cliff on the east, to
the summit of which they can climb, without being exposed to our fire,
and thence it is likewise the shortest distance they can find to cut a
passage to us under the snow. Mark Ringwood!" he continued, as the
hound having made a semicircle from the point first noticed, became at
length stationary, and crouching down on the earth, (where the snow
had been cleared away at Boone's post,) growled more angrily than
before, but so low he could not have been heard twenty paces distant.

"This is strange--very strange," said Glenn.

A sound resembling the cry of an owl was heard in the direction of the
cliff. It was answered on the west apparently by the shrill howl of a
wolf.

"The signal!" said Boone. "Now let us be on the alert," he continued,
"and I think we will surprise _them_, both on and under the snow. Let
no one fire without first consulting me, even should they venture
within the range of your guns."

The party resumed their respective stations, and once more not a sound
of any description was heard for a considerable length of time.
Roughgrove was at the side of Boone, and the other three men were
posted as before described. The hounds had been sent back to their
lair in the stable. Not a motion, animate or inanimate, save the
occasional shooting of the stars in the begemmed firmament, could be
observed.

While Glenn rested upon his gun, attracted ever and anon by the
twinkling host above, a throng of unwonted memories crowded upon him.
He thought of his guileless youth; the uncontaminated days of
enjoyment ere he had mingled with the designing and heartless
associates who strove to entice him from the path of virtue; of the
hopes of budding manhood; of ambitious schemes to win a name by great
and honourable deeds; of parents, kindred, home; of _her_, who had
been the angel of all h