“He’s at his old tricks agin,” said Sneak, when he observed him stealthily enter the door. “Come out, I say!” he continued, in a loud voice. “What is the matter?” interrogated Glenn, from his station on the north. “Why, that feller’s crept into the house agin,” replied Sneak. “Well, but he’s come out again,” said Joe, reappearing, and walking reluctantly to his loophole. “What did you go in for?” demanded Glenn. “I just wanted to tell Miss Mary that the two oarsmen that helped us to bury Posin were gone over the river, and were safe.” “Did she ask for this information?” inquired Glenn. “No, not exactly,” responded Joe; “but I thought if I was uneasy about the young men myself, that she, being more delicate than a man, must be considerably distressed.” “A mere subterfuge! See that you do not leave your post in future, under any circumstances, without permission to do so.” “I won’t,” replied Joe, peering through his loophole. Matters remained quiet for a great length of time, and Glenn began to hope that even Boone had been mistaken. But Boone himself had no doubts upon the subject. Yet he seemed far more affable and cheerful than he did before the plan of resistance was formed in his mind. Occasionally he would walk round from post to post, and after scanning the aspect without, direct the sentinels to observe closely certain points, trees or bushes, where he thought the enemy might first be seen. He never hinted once that there was a possibility of escaping an attack, and the little party felt that the only alternative was to watch with diligence and act with vigor and resolution when assailed. “Do you think they are now in this immediate neighbourhood?” inquired Glenn. “They are not far off, I imagine,” replied Boone; and calling the hounds from the stable, he continued, “I can show you in which quarter they are.” The hounds well understood their old master. At his bidding they snuffed the air, and whining in a peculiar manner, with their heads turned towards the west, the vicinity of the savages was not only made manifest, but their location positively pointed out. “I was not aware, before, of the inestimable value of your gift,” said Glenn, gazing at the hounds, and completely convinced that their conduct was an unerring indication of the presence of the foe. “Eh! Ringwood!” exclaimed Boone, observing that his favorite hound now pointed his nose in a northern direction and uttered a low growl. “Indeed!” he continued, “they have got in motion since we have been observing the hounds. I was not mistaken. Even while we were speaking they divided their strength. One party is even now moving round to the east, and at a given signal the other will attack us on the west, precisely as I predicted. See! Ringwood turns gradually.” “And you think the greatest danger is to be apprehended from those on the east?” said Glenn.