where a curvature hid the rivulet from those at the mill. Here an enormous pine had been laid across the torrent and, flattened on its surface, it made a secure bridge for those who were sure of foot, and steady of eye. Nick glanced back at his companion, as he stepped upon this bridge, to ascertain if she were equal to crossing it, a single glance sufficing to tell him apprehensions were unnecessary. Half a minute placed both, in safety, on the western bank.

"Good!" muttered the Indian; "young squaw make wife for warrior."

But Maud neither heard the compliment nor saw the expression of countenance which accompanied it. She merely made an impatient gesture to proceed. Nick gazed intently at the excited girl; and there was an instant when he seemed to waver in his own purpose; but the gesture repeated caused him to turn, and lead the way up the glen.

The progress of Nick now, necessarily, became more guarded and slower. He was soon obliged to quit the common path, and to incline to the left, more against the side of the cliff, for the purposes of concealment. From the time he had struck the simple bridge, until he took this precaution, his course had lain along what might have been termed the common highway, on which there was always the danger of meeting some messenger travelling to or from the valley.

But Nick was at no loss for paths. There were plenty of them; and the one he took soon brought him out into that by which Captain Willoughby had descended to the lean-to. When the spot was reached where Joyce had halted, Nick paused; and first listening intently to catch the sound of noises, if any might happen to be in dangerous proximity, he addressed his companion:

"Young squaw bold," he said, encouragingly; " now, want heart of warrior."

"I can follow, Nick —

me, now?"

"Cause he here

97714

having come so far, why distrust

down dere; woman love man man

dat right; but, no show it, when scalp in

"Perhaps I do not understand you, Tuscarora ; but my trust is in God; He is a support that can uphold any weak

"Good! stay here- Nick come back in minute."

Nick now descended to the passage between the rocks and the lean-to, in order to make certain that the major still remained in his prison, before he incurred any unnecessary risk with Maud. Of this fact he was soon assured; after which he took the precaution to conceal the pool of blood, by covering it with earth and stones. Making his other observations with care, and placing the saw and chisel, with the other tools that had fallen from the captain's hand when he received his death-wound, in a position to be handy, he ascended the path and rejoined Maud. No word passed between our heroine and her guide. The latter motioned her to follow; then he led the way down to the cabin. Soon both had entered the narrow passage; and Maud, in obedience to a sign from her companion, seated herself on the precise spot where her father had been found, and where the knife had passed into his heart. To all this, however, Nick manifested the utmost indifference. Everything like ferocity had left his face; to use his own figurative language, his sores smarted no longer; and the expression of his eye was friendly and gentle. Still it showed no signs of compunction.

Something, methought, surpassing mortal beauty.

Husable She presently turned round, and fixed her large wild eysa, lado ques Brimming with tears, upon me, fetched a sigh, ed illy refle As from a riven heart, and cried, "He's dead!!"

SHILLHOUSE. K

dilo hun wa odt gulosiq bass mo ditley Robitevnady nsilio MAUD had been so earnest and so much excited, that she scarcely reflected on the singularity and novelty of her sitnation, until she was seated, as described at the close of the last chapter. Then, indeed, she began to think that she had embarked in an undertaking of questionable prudence, and to wonder in what manner she was to be useful. Still her heart did not fail her, or her hopes altogether sink. She saw that Nick was grave and occupied, like a man who intended to effect his purpose at every hazard; and, that purpose she firmly believed was the liberation of Robert Willoughby. 295

As for Nick, the instant his companion was seated, and he had got a position to his mind, he set about his business with great assiduity. It has been said that the lean-to, like the cabin, was built of logs; a fact that constituted the security of the prisoner. The logs of the lean-to, however were much smaller than those of the body of the house, and both were of the common white pine of the country a wood of durable qualities, used as it was here, but which yielded easily to edged tools. Nick had a small saw, a large chisel, and his knife. With the chisel he cautiously commenced opening a hole of communication with the interior, by removing a little of the mortar that filled the interstices between the logs. This occupied but a moment. When effected, Nick applied an eye to the hole, and took a look within. He muttered the word "Good," then with

drew his own eye, and, by a sign, invited Maud to apply ɔne of hers. This our heroine did, and saw Robert Willoughby reading within a few feet of her, with a calmness of air that at once announced his utter ignorance of the dire events that had so lately occurred, almost within reach of his arm.

"Squaw speak," whispered Nick; "voice sweet as wren go to major's ear like song of bird. Squaw speak music to young warrior."

Maud drew back, her heart beat violently, her breathing became difficult, and the blood rushed to her temples. But an earnest motion from Nick reminded her this was no time for hesitation, and she applied her mouth to the hole. Hor

"Robert-dear Robert," she said, in a loud whisper, "we are here—have come to release you." 16

longer; but her eye That she was heard

Maud's impatience could wait no immediately succeeded her mouth. was evident from the circumstance that the book fell from the major's hand, in a way to show how completely he was taken by surprise." He knows even my whispers," thought Maud, her heart beating still more violently, as she observed the young soldier gazing around him, with a bewildered air, like one who fancied he had heard the whisperings of some ministering angel. By this time Nick had removed a long piece of the mortar; and he too was looking into the buttery. By way of bringing matters to an understanding, the Indian thrust the chisel through the opening, and moving it, he soon attracted Willoughby's attention. The latter instantly advanced, and applied his own eye to the wide crack, catching a view of the swarthy face of Nick.

Willoughby knew that the presence of this Indian at such a place, and under such circumstances, indicated the necessity of caution. He did not speak, therefore; but first making a significant gesture towards the door of his narrow prison, thus intimating the close proximity of sentinels, he demanded the object of this visit, in a whisper.

"Come to set major free," answered Nick. osw

"Can I trust you, Tuscarora? Sometimes you seem

friend, sometimes an enemy. I know that you appear to be on good terms with my captors."

"Dat good-Injin know how to look two way --- warrior must, if great warrior."

"I wish I had some proof, Nick, that you are dealing with me in good faith."

mun eist to "Call dat proof, den!" growled the savage, seizing Mand's little hand, and passing it through the opening, before the startled girl was fully aware of what he meant to do.added

Willoughby knew the hand at a glance. He would have recognized it in that forest solitude by its symmetry and whiteness, its delicacy and fullness; but one of the taper fingers wore a ring that, of late, Maud had much used, being a diamond hoop that she had learned was a favorite ornament of her real mother's. It was not surprising, therefore, that he seized the pledge that was thus strangely held forth and had covered it with kisses, before Maud had sufficient presence of mind or strength to reclaim it. This she would not do, however, at such a moment, without returning all the proofs of ardent affection that were lavished on her own hand, by giving a gentle pressure to the one in which it was clasped.

"This is so strange, Maud! 80 every way extraordinary, that I know not what to think," the young man whispered, soon as he could get a glimpse of the face of the sweet girl. "Why are you here, beloved, and in such company?"anēja

"You will trust me, Bob- Nick comes as your friend. Aid him all you can, now, and be silent. When free, then will be the time to learn all.”e qu

A sign of assent succeeded, and the major withdrew a step in order to ascertain the course Nick meant to pursue. By this time the Indian was at work with his knife, and he soon passed the chisel in to the prisoner, who seized it, and commenced cutting into the logs at a point opposite to that where the Tuscarora was whittling away the wood. The object was to introduce the saw, and it required some labor to effect such a purpose. By dint of application, however