any other created being--not even, in some respects, towards my wife and children. Yes, sir; I will not only fight, but, if need be, die for him.” While the captain was relating his oft-told but truthful adventure with his justly-prized dog, the quick eye of Dunning caught, through the window, a glimpse of a recognized form, approaching in the road from the east; and slipping out unnoticed from the room, he beckoned the approaching personage round the corner of the house, and when safely out of the hearing and observation of those in the bar-room, he turned to the other, and said,-- “Der devil's in the wind, Captain Harry!” “How so? Have you discovered the suspected rendezvous?” “Der yes; and more too.” “Indeed! where is it?” “Ditter deep in the thickets, on the west side of the pond nearest the great road over the mountains.” “Ah, ha! but their numbers? any more, probably, than the small club we supposed?” “Der double, and then the ditter double of that, if it don't make more than twenty.” “You surprise me, Dunning. Are you sure?” “Sure as that I am der talking to Captain Woodburn.” “Impossible! It must be some secret meeting of the disaffected in this quarter.” “Der not that, but a regularly armed force, and, with the ditter exception of two or three about-home tories, may be, all strange faces, including a sprinkling of red skins, brought along with them for ditter decency's sake, I suppose.” “But how could such a force get so far into the interior undetected? How dare they venture on so hazardous a movement? and what can be their designs in so doing?” “Der here is something that ditter tells a rather loud story about that; at least, as to the matter of intentions,” said the hunter, by way of reply, taking a crumpled paper from his cap and handing it to the other.