by a swift-footed Deerslayer with flying curls. The end of a broken oar
was her musket, which she brandished fiercely as she echoed their yells.

Mr. Moreland gave a groan of despair as he looked at his model when those
war-whoops broke loose. Richard, who had succeeded after many trials in
lapsing into the dreamy attitude which his father wanted, started up at
the first whoop, so alert and interested that his nostrils quivered. He
scented excitement of some kind and was so eager to be in the midst of it
that the noise of the tom-tom made him wriggle in his chair.

He looked at his father appealingly, then made an effort to settle down
into his former attitude. His body assumed the same listless pose as
before, but his eyes were so eager and shining with interest that they
fairly spoke each time the rattly drumming on the tin pan sounded a
challenge.

"It's no use, Dicky," said his father at last. "It's all up with us for
this time. You might as well go on. But I wish that little tom-boy had
stayed at home."

And Richard went, with a yell and a hand-spring, to throw in his lot with
Manuel and Joseph and be chased by the doughty Deer-slayer and her hound.
In the readjustment of parts Rosa was told to answer to the name of
Hector. It was all one to Rosa whether she was hound or redskin, so long
as she was allowed a part in the thrilling new game. Richard had the
promise of being Deer-slayer next time they played it.