"You have told me," the younger said, as if to spare his companion the pain of narrating the story of the Indian descent upon his cabin in Kentucky. "So I have, but I never grow weary of talking about it. It makes me think of the revenge I have taken, and it nerves my arm anew. Boy," and the speaker touched the youth's shoulder with much tenderness, "boy, I was goin' to say that I hope the Indians will never do you such an injury." "I hope not, Wolf Cap; but I hate them all the same." The frontiersman did not reply for a moment, but looked across the river longingly and sad. "Harvey," he said, suddenly starting up, "we have been separated for four days. Have you heard of him?" "Of----" the young scout hesitated. "Of Jim Girty, of course." "No; but we may obtain some news of him in a few moments." "In a few moments? I do not understand you." "I will tell you. I am here by appointment," said the youth. "In a few moments I hope to meet a person who will give me valuable information concerning the hostiles. She----" "A woman?" interrupted the oldest scout. "Boy, you must not trust these Indian girls too far." "How do you know she is an Indian girl?" asked Harvey Catlett, starting. "Because there are precious few white girls in these parts. Don't trust her further than you can see her, Harvey. I would like to take a squint at the dusky girl." The youth was about replying when the dip of paddles fell upon his practiced ears, and Wolf Cap started back from the water's edge, for he, too, had caught the sound. "Indians!" he said, and the click of his rifle was not heard six feet away, but the youth's painted hand covered the flint. "No enemy at any rate," he whispered, looking in the scout's face. "Stay here till I return. It is Little Moccasin." Without fear, but cautiously, Harvey Catlett, Wayne's youngest and trustiest trailer, glided to the edge of the water, where he was joined by a canoe containing a single person. His giant companion rose, and, full of curiosity, tried to distinguish the features of the canoe's occupant, who was met with a tender welcome at the hands of the young scout. But the sun had entirely set, and the couple formed dark silhouettes on a ghostly background. For many minutes the conversation continued at the boat, and the impatient Wolf Cap at last began to creep forward as if upon a napping foe. "I want to get a glimpse at that girl," he was saying to his eager self. "If I think she is soft soapin' the young feller, why, this shall be their last meetin'." The young couple did not suspect the scout's movements, and as he crouched not twenty feet from the boat and within ear shot, he was surprised to hear Catlett say: "I'll let you go when I have shown you to my friend. He wants to see you. Come, girl." Wolf Cap saw a lithe, girlish figure slip nimbly from the canoe, and when the youth turned his face toward the forest, as if to speak his name, he rose.