“A red skin,” cried Earth, and he sprang to a corner to seize a gun. Rolfe involuntarily caught a stick; the blanket fell from the shoulders of the stranger, who stood forth an Indian warrior, and gazing at Earthquake, cried out in good English when he saw him presenting the gun, “Hold! hunter:—art thou afraid of Oloompa?” Rolfe and Earthquake paused, for they did not at first remember the name, but in an instant it flashed upon Rolfe, and he said, “the wounded boy!” “The same,” was the brief reply, and Oloompa's visage grew darker as he added, “Oloompa is a man in conflict.” Rolfe seized his hand and pressed it with joy—Earth carelessly replaced the gun, and advanced, but Oloompa was cold and indifferent to each, for he had not met with the reception which his arduous services entitled him to, and drawing a chair he seated himself by the fire. “What tidings, Oloompa?” cried Rolfe, with breathless anxiety. “The maiden lives,” was the answer. “Oloompa has sought her,—he has journeyed far. The hunters receive him with guns and sticks—” “Is she the same I seek;—oh! Oloompa, tell me.” Oloompa spoke not, nor even looked at Rolfe, but withdrawing from his belt the letter which he bore, delivered it;—then, after a moment he added, “Oloompa has served the white man, and he is now his enemy.” Earthquake eyed him from head to foot, then said to Rolfe in an under-tone, “What does he mean by saying he is our enemy?—Rolfe, I have a great mind to use him up.” “Hush, Earth,” said Rolfe, “regard nothing that he says, he is vexed now, but it will wear off,” and tearing open the note, he read the lines which Gay had written. “Yes, yes, she is the same,” cried he; and for a moment he was overpowered by contending emotions. He knew not at first, whether to be sorry or glad. He regretted her misfortunes and the sufferings she must have experienced, and his brow was touched with sadness. Then again, she was alive and well, and he was to rescue her and restore her to her friends, and thinking of this, he became almost frantic with joy; and passing the note which he had received to Earth, he approached Oloompa, begged his pardon for the reception they had given him; gave him a thousand thanks for the trouble he had taken, and used all his exertions to make him comfortable and happy. But Oloompa manifested the utmost indifference to all his attentions, and repulsed every effort at hospitality. He seemed to regard them as disagreeable, and partook of only such refreshments as nature required. Rolfe regretted exceedingly, the reception he had met with, and by his gentleness of manner, and continued efforts to win him from his reserve, succeeded in obtaining from him a history of his journey, together with details of the appearance and occupation of Gay, and a thousand other incidents which were full of interest to him alone.