A surprise awaited him when he had accomplished this feat. The Indian's face was revealed, and, to Carrol's surprise, no less than his joy, for not having plunged the knife into his heart, he recognised it. "Nelatu!" "Carrol!" "Hush! or you'll alarm all the red-skins about the place." "What are you doing here?" "I've just dropped out o' that thar window," he paid, pointing to the opening above. "How came you to go in there?" "I didn't go in of my own will, you may bet high on that. I war brung." "Who brought you?" "Some o' yur own Injuns." "A prisoner?" "That's about the size o' it. I shouldn't have been one much longer." "What do you mean?" "Why, that to-morrow I'd have been as dead as a man could be, with forty or fifty fellows playing blue-blazes on his carcase." "Ha! they have decreed on burning you?" "That's it, lad, and consarn me if I ain't glad to be out hyar in the open air a tellin' it you, 'stead of in there a thinkin' on it." "Who condemned you?" "Wal, names hev a kind o' slipped my memory, but they wur warriors and braves of yur enlightened community." "Why did you not send for me?" "I thought of that, but they told me you war gone, and wouldn't be back in time for the ceremony." "How did you get out here? Who opened the window?" "That war done by a angel." "An angel?--what do you mean?" "Jist this; that at one of the corners of that thar eternal hole, a angel appeared and showed me the road to liberty." "Who was it?" "Wal, it air no use keepin' it from you--" "Speak! who was it?" "I'll tell you, but first listen a spell to somethin' else. Nelatu, lad, I once did you a sarvice." "You did! I shall never forget it!" "Durn it, it warn't for that I made mention on't. It war only this-- look me in the face, and tell me on the word of a man you mean square with me. Do that an' I'll put my trust in ye, as I'm now puttin' my life in your hands." "Upon an Indian warrior's word, I am your friend!" "You air, Nelatu? Then dog-gorn me if I doubt you. Your hand!" They exchanged a friendly grasp. "It is more nor my life--it am the good name and actions of the most splendiferous, angeliferous critter the sun ever set eyes on! It air--" "Alice Rody!" The hunter showed some surprise as Nelatu uttered the name. "Yes, it war that same gal; but how on airth did you come for to guess it so straight?" "Because that one name is never absent from my thoughts." The hunter uttered a strange exclamation. "Ho-ho!" he muttered to himself, "the wind sits in that quarter, do it? Poor lad, I'm fear'd thar ain't no chance for him." "I fear it," said Nelatu, overhearing the muttered remark; "but, come!-- what she has commenced, I will accomplish. At all risks I shall assist you in regaining your liberty." "Wal, I'll be glad to get it." "Then, follow me!" The Indian rapidly crossed the open space at the back of the house, and led the way to the edge of the forest. The released captive strode silently after.