Taken by surprise--a surprise mingled with sweet satisfaction--I rose to my feet; and stood silently but respectfully awaiting her approach. I had acted with prudence in not speaking: for I saw by her manner that the movement was a stolen one. Moreover, the finger, raised for an instant to her lips, admonished me to silence. I understood the signal, so piquantly given; and obeyed it. In another instant she was near-- near enough for me to hear her words--delivered in a half-whisper. She had paused before me in an attitude that betokened the fear of interruption; and, before speaking, again cast behind her another of those unquiet looks. "Brave stranger!" said she, in a hurried undertone, "I know you are not afraid of my father; but oh, sir! for mercy's sake, do not fight with him!" "For _your_ sake," I said, interrupting her, and speaking in a low but impressive tone--"for your sake, fair Lilian, I shall not fight with him. Trust me, there is no fear. I shall bear anything, rather than--" "Hush!" said she, again motioning me to silence, at the same time glancing furtively behind her. "You must not speak: you may be heard! Only listen to me. I know why you are here. I came out to tell you something." "I listen." "Father does not now wish to quarrel with you: he has changed his mind. I have just heard what they said. He intends to make you a proposal. Oh, sir! if you can, please agree to it; for then there--will be no trouble. I hope there will be none!" "For you, fair Lilian, I shall agree to it--whatever the conditions be. Can you tell me what proposal he intends making me?" "I heard him say he would _sell_--Oh, mercy! they are coming--if I am seen--" The murmuring words were drowned by the louder voices of the men--who were now heard returning round the angle of the wall. Fortunately, before they had reached the front of the cabin, the young girl had glided back into the doorway; and no suspicion appeared to be entertained by either, of the clandestine visit just paid me. On rounding the corner, the stranger stopped. The squatter continued to advance, until within a few paces of where I stood. Then halting, he erected his gigantic form to its full height; and, for a moment, confronted me without speaking. I noticed that his countenance no longer bore signs of angry passion; but, on the contrary, betrayed some traces of a softer feeling--as of regret and contrition. "Strenger!" said he at length, "I've two things to propose to ye; an' ef you'll agree to them, thur's no need why you an' I shed quarrel--leest of all plug one another wi' bullets, as we wur agwine to do a minnit ago." "Name your conditions!" rejoined I, "and if they are not impossible for me to accept, I promise you they shall be agreed to." With Lilian in my thoughts, they would be hard indeed if I could not square with whatever terms he might propose. "They ain't unpossible--neyther o' 'em; thur only just an' fair."