n a few minutes dinner was on the table, and they all sat down without
waiting for Martin and John, who were still busy skinning the wolf.

CHAPTER XVIII.

"Here come Martin and John at last," said Mr. Campbell, after they had
been about a quarter of an hour at table.

But he was mistaken; instead of Martin and John, Malachi Bone made his
appearance, and, to their surprise, accompanied by his young squaw, the
Strawberry Plant.

Every one rose to welcome them, and the Misses Percival went to their
little female acquaintance, and would have made her sit down with them,
but she refused and took her seat on the floor near the fire.

"She ain't used to chairs and stools, miss; let her be where she is,"
said old Bone, "she'll be more comfortable, and that's what you want
her to be, I'm sure. I brought her with me, because I could not carry
all the venison myself, and also to show her the way in and out of the
house, and how it is fastened, in case of sending a message by night."

"Of sending a message by night," said Mrs. Campbell, with surprise,
"why, what possible occasion could there be for that?"

Captain Sinclair and Alfred, who perceived that the old hunter had said
too much, were quite at a loss what to say. They did not like to
frighten Mrs. Campbell and the girls about the Indians, especially as
they had just been so much alarmed with the accident of the morning. At
last Alfred replied, "The fact is, my dear mother, that 'forewarned is
being forearmed,' as the saying is; and I told Martin to request Malachi
Bone, if he should hear of any Indians being about or near us, to let us
know immediately."

"Yes, ma'am, that is the whole story," continued Malachi. "It's the best
plan, when you're in the woods, always to have your rifle loaded."

Mrs. Campbell and the girls were evidently not a little fluttered at
this fresh intimation of danger. Captain Sinclair perceived it, and
said, "We have always spies on the look-out at the fort, that we may
know where the Indians are and what they are about. Last month, we know
that they held a council, but that it broke up without their coming to
any determination, and that no hostile feeling was expressed so far as
we could ascertain. But we never trust the Indians, and they, knowing
that we watch them, have been very careful not to commit any outrages;
they have not done so for a long while, nor do I think they will venture
again. At the same time, we like to know w