been before me. I thought anyway that I might stop your going down to
Gloucester, and that if there was a fight you would be none the worse
for an extra rifle."

Mr. Welch told the hunter of the visit of the two Indian spies two
nights before.

"Waal," the hunter said, "I reckon for the present you are not likely
to be disturbed. The Injuns have taken a pile of booty and something
like two hundred scalps, counting the women and children, and they
moved off at daybreak this morning in the direction of Tottenham,
which I reckon they'll attack tonight. Howsomever, Bill has gone on
there to warn 'em, and after the sack of Gloucester the people of
Tottenham won't be caught napping, and there are two or three old
frontiersmen who have settled down there, and War Eagle will get a
hot reception if he tries it. As far as his band is concerned, you're
safe for some days. The only fear is that some others of the tribe,
hurrying up at hearing of his success, may take this place as they go
past. And now I guess I'll take a few hours' sleep. I haven't closed
an eye for the last two nights."

A week passed quietly. Pearson, after remaining two days, again went
down the lake to gather news, and returned a day later with the
intelligence that almost all the settlements had been deserted by
their inhabitants. The Indians were out in great strength and had
attacked the settlers at many points along the frontier, committing
frightful devastations.

Still another week passed, and Mr. Welch began to hope that his
little clearing had been overlooked and forgotten by the Indians. The