_Lady A_. (_Aside_.) And she stood there, amid those yelling demons alone! Methinks the angels should have come from their unseen dwellings at her prayer. Can our humanity's darkest extremity wring no love from the invisible?-- _Andre_. Alaska had regained his charge; but the malignant eye, and the deadly arrow of the vanquished Indian followed her. She fell, even in the place where you found her; for at that same instant a party from the fort drove them hence, victor and vanquished. Alaska fled; but the murderer, with a tale cunning enough to deceive the lover, boldly demanded and obtained the prize. _Mor_. Mark his changed mien. I would rather see tears for a grief like this, than that calm smile with which he gazes on her now. (_Burgoyne and St. Leger are seen talking in the road above,--they enter the glen_.) _Bur_. At a crisis like this we might better have lost a thousand men in battle! Ah! ah!--a sight for our enemies, Lady Ackland! Where is this Indian? _St. L_. We have sent out for him. No one has seen him as yet. _Bur_. Let him be found. Look to it. We will give them an example for once. I say, at a crisis like this we might better have lost a thousand men in battle, for it will turn thousands against us, and rouse the slumbering spirit of resistance here, at the very crisis when, had it slumbered on a little longer, all was ours. _St. L_. But this was a quarrel among the Indians, and no fault of ours. _Bur_. No matter. You will see what Schuyler will make of it. His wordy proclamation will have its living sequel now. A young and innocent girl, seeking the protection of our camp, is inhumanly murdered by Indians in our pay. A single tale like this is enough to undo at a blow all that we have accomplished here. With ten thousand wild aggravations, it will be told in every cottage of these borders before to-morrow's sunset. (_Another Officer enters hastily_.) _Off_. Here is Arnold, with a thousand men, on the brow of the next hill. One of the rebel guard escaped, and the news of the massacre here has reached their camp below. _Bur_. Said I right? (_The three Officers go out together_.) _Andre_. This story is spreading fast, there will be throngs here presently. Maitland,--nay, do not let me startle you thus, but-- _Mait_. Is it you? What was it we were saying yesterday?--we should have noted it. This were a picture worth your pencilling now. Those silken vestments,--that long, golden hair,--this youthful shape,--there's that same haughty grace about it, that the smile of these thought-lit eyes would disown with every glance. Then that letter,--and the Lady Ackland here,--Weeping?--This is most strange. I know you all,--but,--as I live I can't remember how this chanced. How comes it that we all stand here? Pearls?--and white silk?--a bridal?--Ha ha ha! (_Laughing wildly_.)