“Nat,” I commenced, earnestly, “you say you are not afraid of Indians, and yet you show it in every word, look, and action. There is no excuse for this. I saw only two savages, and a girl, evidently a captive; no words or actions were exchanged between us. They disappeared very suddenly and were, more probably, frightened at my presence. I see nothing in this to excuse the excitement and terror you have exhibited.” “I wonder what that girl is?” “I am afraid you will have to wonder a long time, as I can see no occasion for satisfying your curiosity.” “Is she good looking?” asked my companion, seriously. “Very! What makes you ask that question?” “I declare, if I don’t marry her, just to spite Alminy, and make Bill Hawkins mad,” he exclaimed, joyously. At this point I could restrain my mirth no longer; but, as I indulged it, I was considerably surprised to feel a slight twinge of jealousy at his words. This discovery was painful. “I am afraid you will meet with several formidable obstacles, before you can accomplish that; the most difficult of which will be to obtain an audience with the fair one herself.” “Don’t suppose she’d be very anxious to see me; and I wouldn’t care if I only had my pipe and jack-knife to pass away time with.” “I think it would be as well not to mention this affair to Biddon.” “Why not?” “It can do no good, and he would be displeased at the thoughtlessness I have evidenced. I do not think there are savages enough in the vicinity to render us fearful of our safety. The canoe, I am disposed to believe, belongs to some tribe quite distant from here.” “But what are they here for?” “I can only conjecture. Biddon has never seen savages in this particular section, and these may be returning from some journey to their tribe.” “Perhaps so, and may be not. These plagued Injins sometimes live in one place and sometimes in another, you know, and it may be that a notion has just entered their heads to come and live in these parts.” “There is reason in what you say, but, as I stated, if danger threatens, Biddon will undoubtedly detect its signs himself in time.” “I think he will, though I shall feel a little flustered every time he goes out. You remember when he was after the antelope, he walked right among the Injins, without knowing it till it was too late to stop.” “He did, it is true, but how nicely he walked out again. I tell you, Nat, that fellow has nerve equal to any emergency. What man, when conscious of an overwhelming foe being concealed within a few feet of him, could have repressed every sign of trepidation or fear, as he did, and bring the antelope through the same fearful ordeal, with the same coolness and deliberation?” “That was a clever thing, I allow.”