Leslie began to think that he was in rather a close situation, and clutching his rifle nervously, endeavored to ascertain the point from which the shot had come, determined to return one at all hazards. He did not dare to pass over to the opposite side, for he had a suspicion that they were intended for that purpose. He believed that his person had not been aimed at, but the balls had been intended to pass closely enough to alarm him and cause him to seek safety by pulling for the other shore, where, probably, a foe was waiting. While he sat undetermined what course to pursue, a form stepped out in full view upon the bank, and accosted him. "Frightened any?" "Well, I should think I ought to be. Why, is that you, George?" "I believe so. Come in and take me aboard." "What reason had you for firing upon me?" asked Leslie, approaching him. "Well, not any. I saw you coming down-stream, and an idea seized me to learn if you were easily frightened." "I felt rather nervous when that shot came," returned Leslie, pointing at the hole in his oar. "It was a close rub; but, of course, I took good care not to make it too close." "What is the news? What reason have you for being here?" asked Leslie, interrupting him. "News enough," returned Leland, gloomily. "Step in the boat and let me hear it." As they passed down-stream, Leland narrated his story, and when he had finished, remarked: "Roland, I have sought you for advice and assistance, and I trust both will be given." "Gladly! Do you think, George, that I could rest as long as your sister is in the hands of those savages?" "Pardon me," returned Leland, "if I at all doubted. This affliction weighs heavily upon me." "I suspected this state of things," continued Leslie, "and it is the reason that I hurried down-stream. Yet the uncertainty of seeing you or any friend, deterred me from making haste to your place." Here Leslie gave the circumstances of his encountering Zeb, and his subsequent misfortune, or, as he termed it, his fortune, of falling in the gorge. "Then Kent is gone, is he?" asked George, when he had finished. "That is too bad, for we need his assistance greatly." "In fact, I do not understand what we shall be able to do without him," added Leslie. "Nor I; and here we are as helpless as if we were already in the hands of the Indians, so far as regards any assistance that we can give Rosalind," continued Leland. "Oh, don't despair so soon. I trust that Kent will soon turn up, and we shall then have a good chance to recover her." "Where do you suppose that Kent can be?" "I can only guess." "What reason have you then for thinking that we shall meet him?" "This reason. He saw me fall, and was obliged to leave me for a time, as the pursuers were close at hand. I am certain that, as soon as he eluded and escaped them, he would return to the place for me." "And find you gone and give you up."