gate being opened at night, John," said Mr. Campbell;
"why don't you leave it, as you usually do, till to-morrow morning; that
will be time enough?"

"I don't know if it was a wolf," replied John.

"What, then, boy, tell me?" said Malachi.

"Well, I think it was an Indian," replied John; who then explained what
had passed.

"Well, I shouldn't wonder," replied Malachi; "at all events the gate
must not be opened to-night, for if it was an Indian you fired at, there
is more than one of them; we'll keep all fast, John, and see what it was
to-morrow."

Mrs. Campbell and the girls were much alarmed at this event, and it was
with difficulty that they were persuaded to retire to rest.

"We will keep watch to-night at all events," said Malachi, as soon as
Mrs. Campbell and her nieces had left the room. "The boy is right, I
have no doubt. It is the Angry Snake and his party who are prowling
about, but if the boy has hit the Indian, which I have no doubt of, they
will make off; however, it will be just as well to be on our guard,
nevertheless. Martin can watch here and I will watch in the fold."

We have before observed that the lodge of Malachi, Martin, and his wife,
was built within the palisade of the sheep-fold, and that there was a
passage from the palisade round the house to that which surrounded the
sheep-fold, which passage had also a palisade on each side of it.

"I will watch here," said Alfred; "let Martin go home with you and his
wife."

"I will watch with you," said John.

"Well, perhaps that will be better," said Malachi; "two rifles are
better than one, and if any assistance is required, there will be one to
send for it."

"But what do you think they would do, Malachi?" said Mr. Campbell; "they
can not climb the palisades."

"Not well, sir, nor do I think they would attempt it unless they had a
large force, which I am sure they have not; no, sir, they would rather
endeavor to set fire to the house if they could, but that's not so easy;
one thing is certain, that the Snake will try all he can to get
possession of what he saw in your storehouse."

"That I do not doubt," said Alfred; "but he will not find it so easy a
matter."

"They've been reconnoitering, sir, that's the truth of it, and if John
has helped one of them to a bit of lead, it will do good; for it will
prove that we are on the alert, and make them careful how they come near
the house again."

After a few minutes' more conversation, Mr.