The mock ceremonial of examination was proceeded with, and a vain attempt made to extract from him intelligence of the movements of the whites, especially of the numbers and disposition of the Government troops, some of whom had by this time arrived in the peninsula. His disdainful refusal to betray his own race did him no service. True, he was already sentenced to die, but the manner of his death might inflict horror on him who had no fear of dying. Though the questions were skilfully put to him, the old hunter saw through them all. He did not, indeed, possess much knowledge of the military invasion; but had he been in the secret of the commanding officer himself, he could not have been more reticent in his replies. Utterly foiled in their questions, the warriors played their last card, and with threats of the most terrible tortures endeavoured to wring from his fears what his honour would not reveal. Vain effort on their part. Cris did, indeed, wince when they first spoke of torture; but, recovering himself, he became more proudly defiant than before. "Ye may shake my old body with rackin' pains. I know you've got devil's inventions, and I don't deny but they're awful; but there's somethin' about me that ye can't make tremble, not if all the imps o' hell war yer slaves--that's my soul. It'll come out of yer fiery ordeal as calm as it is now; and with its last thoughts it'll despise and dare ye! Cris Carrol arn't bin backwoods hunter for a matter goin' on forty year to be skeart at burnin' sticks or hot lead; and he'll die as he has lived, an honest man!" A mingled murmur of admiration and anger ran through the assembled crowd, and it was evident that many of the warriors would have given their consent to his being set free. There is something about TRUE courage which extorts admiration even from an enemy. A hurried consultation took place among the head men in council. It was speedily over, and the oldest of their number rose and pronounced sentence against the prisoner. It was death by burning at the stake! Cris Carrol was not surprised on hearing it. The sentence had already lost half of its terror. He had made up his mind that this would be his doom. Only one word of response came from his lips-- "When?" "To-morrow!" replied he who had pronounced judgment. Without bestowing a glance upon those who had thus fixed the limit of his earthly career, the hunter strode from the council chamber with calm and measured steps. As he passed out the crowd made way for him, and many of the faces expressed admiration--some even pity. The stoic bravery of the Indian is marvellous, and for him death has no terrors. With them it is a sort of fatalism. What they do not dread themselves, they make but light of in others. Por all that they have the highest admiration for a man who dares meet death calmly. In their eyes the white captive had assumed all the importance of a great warrior.