"Yes," replied Fenton, "but no Indian has his head covered with a hat like that, and see, if I mistake not, he has a sword girded to his side, such as an Indian never carries." "Then let us overtake him," exclaimed Gilbert; "should he prove to be an enemy, we are two to one, we need not fear him, although my hope is that he is a friend." "On, then," cried Fenton, and, setting off, they quickly gained on the stranger. Hearing their footsteps, he turned and faced them, cautiously, as he did so, fixing an arrow in his bow. The moment he saw them, however, he withdrew it, letting the arrow fall to the ground, and hastened with hurried strides towards them. They now saw that he was indeed a white man, with a flowing long beard, which made him appear older than he really was. He looked from one to the other with an inquiring gaze. Gilbert's heart bounded within him. "Can it be?" exclaimed the stranger, as he stretched out his arms. "Art thou Gilbert Audley?" "Yes, father, yes," exclaimed Gilbert, as he sprang forward, and the next instant was clasped to the breast of Captain Audley. "I had heard that thou wert far off, my boy," said Captain Audley, "and little did I expect to see thee, and was even now on my way to obtain the aid of some of our countrymen, who are not a day's voyage from this, to rescue thee from the hands of those who held thee in bondage. And this is the son of my noble friend, Sir Edward Fenton," he continued, stretching out his hand to Gilbert's companion. A few words sufficed, to explain how he knew all this. Gilbert then told him of their escape from the Indians, and of the probability of their being pursued. "Then we must not tarry here longer," said Captain Audley, "though I fear that my weary limbs will not carry me as fast over the ground as your young ones have brought you along. It were better for you to hasten on rather than run the risk of being overtaken by the savages." "No, no, father! having once found you, we will not desert you," exclaimed Gilbert. "That we will not, sir," said Fenton, "though overtaken by a whole host of pursuers, we shall be three to oppose them, while we may use a stout tree as a fortress, behind which we may find shelter, and with fire-arms in our hands, while our ammunition lasts we may keep at bay any number who may come against us." "We will rather strive to avoid them without shedding of blood," said Captain Audley; "I have seen so much slaughter since I have dwelt among these benighted savages that I pray I may live and die in peace, without being compelled to draw another drop of blood from the veins of my fellow-creatures--but on, lads, on, we must not longer waste the time when relentless foes are following us, and sure I am that the savages will not allow you to escape without an attempt to recover you."