“I mean he had no fire-arms—­no rifle,” pursued Delme.

“And if he had, he certainly would have rifled one of us of a life,” continued the captain, laughing at his own conceit.  “But come, the bird is flown, and we have only to thank ourselves for having been so egregiously duped.  Had Valletort been here, he would have given a different account of him.”

“Hist! listen!” exclaimed Lieutenant Johnstone, calling the attention of the party to a peculiar and low sound in the direction in which the supposed Indian had departed.

It was repeated, and in a plaintive tone, indicating a desire to propitiate.  Soon afterwards a human form was seen advancing slowly, but without show either of concealment or hostility in its movements.  It finally remained stationary on the spot where the dark and shapeless mass had been first perceived.

“Another Oucanasta for De Haldimar, no doubt,” observed Captain Erskine, after a moment’s pause.  “These grenadiers carry every thing before them as well in love as in war.”

The error of the good-natured officer was, however, obvious to all but himself.  The figure, which was now distinctly traced in outline for that of a warrior, stood boldly and fearlessly on the brink of the ditch, holding up its left arm, in the hand of which dangled something that was visible in the starlight, and pointing energetically to this pendant object with the other.

A voice from one of the party now addressed the Indian in two several dialects, but without eliciting a reply.  He either understood not, or would not answer the question proposed, but continued pointing significantly to the indistinct object which he still held forth in an elevated position.

“The governor must be apprised of this,” observed Captain Blessington to De Haldimar, who was his subaltern of the guard.  “Hasten, Charles, to acquaint your father, and receive his orders.”

The young officer willingly obeyed the injunction of his superior.  A secret and indefinable hope rushed through his mind, that as the Indian came not in hostility, he might be the bearer of some communication from their friends; and he moved rapidly towards that part of the building occupied by his father.

The light of a lamp suspended over the piazza leading to the governor’s rooms reflecting strongly on his regimentals, he passed unchallenged by the sentinels posted there, and uninterruptedly gained a door that opened on a narrow passage, at the further extremity of which was the sitting-room usually occupied by his parent.  This again was entered from the same passage by a second door, the upper part of which was of common glass, enabling any one on the outside to trace with facility every object within when the place was lighted up.