shells, and laced with scarlet cord terminating in tassels of beads.

To-cus did not presume to sit in her presence, but stood in the centre of the lodge, gravely awaiting the communication of his visitor, who cast a searching glance around the wigwam, and then turned her eyes with keen scrutiny upon the scarred warrior.

"The young brave would wed the daughter of the great Sachem of the Montauks," she said, abruptly. To-cus would take the young princess to his lodge," he returned, his eyes flashing. His voice had a ring of triumph which did not escape the keen perception of his visitor.

"It was that he might take Heather Flower to his lodge that he sought Mandush in mortal combat; it was that hope that made his arm powerful to kill his rival?" queried Wic-chi-tau-bit, in a tone of

assertion.

His eyes blazed with the mingled fire of gratified vanity and ferocity as he answered:

"The Queen of the Montauks speaks with a straight tongue-she is wise-she sees the truth deep down in the heart of To-cus."

"Heather Flower will go to the lodge of the young brave who slew Mandush in honourable, handto-hand combat, but-on condition," returned Wicchi-tau-bit.

"Let the Queen of the Montauks speak-the ears of To-cus are open," replied the warrior.

"Listen, while Wic-chi-tau-bit whispers that which the winds must not breathe, of which no other, save the Great Spirit, can hear the sound, and then let To-cus say if he will, of his own choice, do the bidding of Heather Flower."

"The ears of To-cus are open," repeated the young Indian.

"First, swear by the Great Spirit that never shall the tongue of the young warrior repeat the words that Heather Flower will speak through her mother's lips, not even to save his life," returned the Indian

queen.

"Not even to save his body from fire at the stake will To-cus open his lips," he replied grimly.

"Listen: a pale-face came to the nest of the great Eagle of the Montauks, a hawk clothed in the plumage of a dove. His voice was like the murmur of the brook, pleasant to the ear as the silvery tinkle of the cascade in the heart of the forest. With a lying tongue and honeyed lips he stole the heart of the forest flower, only to trample it in the dust. When the moon was yet rising from the blue waters in the east, Heather Flower listened to his words of love to another, a pale-faced maiden, one of his own race, who promised many moons ago to go to his lodge across the great waters. What shall be the vengeance inflicted upon the pale-face vulture who has offered such an insult to the daughter of the Warrior King?'

"Death by slow torture!" uttered the grim savage, in a tone of such deadly menace that Wicchi-tau-bit knew she had found the instrument of revenge she sought. "And when he is dead?"

The last sentence was a question.

"His slayer shall take Heather Flower to his lodge before he takes revenge-his promise will not be broken. First, the feast must be spread, the warriors shall make merry at the marriage festivities. Afterwards Heather Flower's lord shall seek out the white serpent; he shall lay in ambush until he finds opportunity to satisfy his revenge. But he must follow the trail secretly, for the English must never know that their brother died by the hand of a Montauk; therefore, let the wedding feast be set, the young

princess be taken to the lodge of To-cus; then, when the white wolf believes that Heather Flower is crouching in fear, let To-cus bring his scalp to hang in the smoke of her wigwam fire. Is it well?"

"It is well. To-cus hears, and will obey; Heather Flower shall dry the scalp of the white chief the palefaces call Guy Kingsland."

"How can the young warrior know the name of the viper his heel must crush?" asked Wic-chi-tau-bit. "Has To-cus no eyes to see, no ears to hear?" asked the warrior. "Had the white wolf stolen the forest flower from the lodges of her people, unless the wedding feast had first been eaten among her kin, the knife of To-cus would have found his black heart; five hundred knives would have been sharpened, five hundred tomahawks ready to drink his blood, but it should have been the knife of To-cus that would take his scalp."

"It is well," returned the red queen, with a satisfied air. "Before the coming of the young moon To-cus shall take the princess of the Montauks to his wigwam."

Without another word, or even a glance toward the young savage, she was gone, and To-cus stood alone beside his lodge fire, his eyes alight with the fierce fires of gratified pride and ambition.

CHAPTER XV

BIRDS OF PREY

"The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose;
An evil soul producing holy witness

Is like a villain with a smiling cheek;
A goodly apple rotten at the heart;
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath."

A fellow by the hand of nature mark'd,
Quoted and sign'd to do a deed of shame."

2

HE fort at Saybrook was but a blockhouse, a cumbrous affair of logs within a stout stockade and abatis, with rather commodious quarters for the officers and their families, and ample storage for arms and ammunition, a sort of depot from whence supplies were drawn by the settlements on Long Island and the interior plantations of Connecticut colony.

Hither prisoners were brought, whites and Indians, for safe keeping, and the small vessels plying between the fort and the ports on the mainland and islands were usually well passengered.

The fort was surrounded by dense forests, the clearing being fairly hewed from the heart of the wilderness that was still the abode of savages, seamed with their war-paths, and still the haunt of wild beasts.

It was in the early twilight of a sultry day when the gruff challenge of the guard came clearly to the ears of the Commandant, who was just seated at table, and presently a guest was announced.

"Eh! Kingsland! what brings you here? glad to see you, of course!" greeted Captain Mason, cordially.

"But surprised that I am back so soon, eh?" returned the Lieutenant, with a short, half uneasy laugh. "In this beastly country, even the sudden visit of a friend becomes a trifle startling; a matter of moment demanding immediate attention brought me here this letter from Major Gordon will explain all."

"Here, Quash, you rascal, lay a cover and be quick about it!" called the Captain, turning to a negro with charcoal-black skin; "bring another decanter of old rum, a plate of venison and a dish of succotash!"

Quash grinned until two rows of ivory lighted up the lower portion of his visage like a streak of pale moonlight, and as he disappeared the outer door opened and Colonel Lawrence entered.

The two officers exchanged greetings.

"Like our host, you hardly thought to see me here so soon after you left the island," smiled Kingsland.

"Hardly," assented the Colonel; "it must be an errand of importance that can tear you from the presence of your ‘ladye faire.'"

"Of some import," admitted Kingsland, rather guardedly. "I am the bearer of a letter from the Major."

"Sit down, sit down, gentlemen, we will have some'at to eat and some'at to drink before we discuss business," said the Captain, hospitably, turning to his guests, who had placed their hats upon the broad antlers of a deer that served for a rack.

The three seated themselves at table, the host at the head.