He turned back in the saddle toward the blockhouse before it should disappear from his sight behind the forest-encompassed, rocky hill around which they were winding. Catherine had not left her place in front of the door. Though uncertain whether she could see the salutation he waved his hand to her, and then the rocks hid her from his sight. An indescribable sadness fell upon Lambert and it did not lack much but he would have turned Hans about and gone back at full speed. But with a strong determination he overcame his painful emotion. "I am just as great a coward," said he to himself, "and even a greater one, for I know better about what is going on, and nothing that I do for her should be burdensome to me." "You may well talk," Adam broke in upon Lambert's self-communings. "Why?" asked Lambert. "Should they pull the scalp from over your ears no rooster would crow after that; but my mother would weep her eyes out." "Perhaps there may be somebody who would rather see my scalp on my head than on an Indian's girdle." "Do you mean the young lady?" asked Adam, opening his mouth from ear to ear, and for a moment letting go of the horn of the saddle, and pointing back over his shoulder with his thumb. "Perhaps," said Lambert. "Don't trouble yourself about that," said Adam, in a comforting tone. "Then I will marry her. It is already a long time since mother wanted me to marry. But you know I would not take just anybody. The girl pleases me." "So!" said Lambert. "Yes," said Adam. "Barbara and Gussie and Annie would doubtless at first cry a little, but that would come right in time. I believe that Fritz and August Volz are already engaged to Barbara and Gussie, and we have always thought that you would marry Annie." "With or without a scalp?" asked Lambert. Adam thought this such a capital joke that he stopped the mare to press his fists into his sides and break out in ringing laughter. A fish-hawk, which had plunged into the creek among the reeds, flew away frightened, while his warning voice rang out. "My God!" said Adam, "I really thought it was already one of the mean French, or red-skins." "Have you during this time of terror heard of them?" asked Lambert as they were riding along.