She looked like a person who had suddenly been confronted by a spectre. At that moment John Darknight's face assumed a bold, defiant and threatening aspect; but it was as white as Areotha's. CHAPTER V. A BRACE OF DESERTIONS. With one accord the fugitives glanced from Little Moccasin to the guide. They felt that the twain had met before, and that the present encounter was unexpected and startling to each. "What do you know about this girl?" said the settler to Darknight. "It seems to me that this is not your first encounter with her." "I should say that it wasn't," was the reply. "I had hoped that we would reach our destination without meeting her, for her presence among white emigrants or fugitives betokens danger. She is the witch of the northwest territory, and many is the boat that she has decoyed ashore to the rifle and the tomahawk. She doubtless recognized me, for I once pitched her into the rapids of yon river, and if she had her deserts now our rifles would rid the territory of its witch, though I know it is hard to kill a woman." "Abel, she must not stay here if she is to betray us to death," said the settler's wife, fast upon the guide's last words. "Not so fast, mother," interrupted Kate Merriweather, with sympathy in her dark eyes for the lone girl. "Remember that we have listened to but one side of the story--Mr. Darknight's; now let us hear what she has to say in her defense." "Oh, she's a cute one, and you'll hear the sleekest story ever told in these parts," the guide said. But Kate Merriweather did not appear to have heard him. "You have listened to the white man," she said to Areotha. "He has not given you an enviable reputation. Now we want to hear what you have to say for yourself." Reassured by the white girl's kindly voice and looks, the accused maiden stepped boldly forward, and said in a tone trembling but sweet: "The pale guide does not like to see Areotha here, for she knows him. He is more Wyandot than white man, and where is the boat he ever guided that has not bloody planks? Areotha does not know. Did he not tell the white man in his cabin that the red men would surround it and scalp his family, and then right away offer to guide him to the Blacksnake?" Abel Merriweather started violently. How did the forest girl know that John Darknight had done this? "This is insulting, and from a characterless girl at that!" the guide exclaimed, advancing a step. "Hear her through," said Kate firmly. "You have had your say; she shall have hers. Now," to Areotha, "tell us if you are the witch he calls you--tell us if you have ever decoyed the boats of our people to an ambush."