bear-fat and shredded bark, intermingled with the dry leaves of the pungent turnip stalk piled upon threshold and sill, a highly combustible compound which burned with an intensity that would soon have reduced the wood to a mass of ashes, leaving an unobstructed entrance at different portions of the dwelling, and placing the inmates, whom they believed sleeping, wholly at the mercy of the demon crew. The entire programme might have been carried out successfully had not the noble-hearted young Canarsee warrior risked his life to warn them of the contemplated attack.

The charred wood, indented with clusters of iron spikes, had withstood the flames for the few moments; the last vestige of fire had been quenched; the moon went down, not a star was visible, the darkness was lighted only by the ghostly glimmer of the sleet that began to be driven aslant in fine needlepoints.

But presently a brighter gleam flashed athwart the gloom at a short distance adown the avenue, growing brighter as the watchers gazed, the spires of flame rapidly widening and shedding a red glow upon the brown sward and out upon the expanse of water now tossing turbulently in foam-wreathed lines reflecting the red glare in torn banners, and turning the fine particles of hail into a quivering shower of flashing diamonds, while beneath the shelter of the thick cedar and hemlock branches a shadowy group of gnomes swarmed, darting hither and thither like sharks leaping in search of prey.

From the gloom outside the circle of firelight two brawny Mohawks emerged, dragging with them a prisoner.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

AFTER THE MOON WENT DOWN

"Through the leafy halls of the wild, old wood,
Rang an echo full and free,

To the savage shout of a fearful band,
As they bound the white man foot and hand,
To the sacrificial tree."

APTAIN LAWRENCE looked steadily through the glass that he held in his hand.

A white prisoner, and they are about to subject him to the torture!" he groaned.

"Let me see his face-it must be the Major! In God's name, let me see!" entreated Colonel Lawrence, his hand shaking nervously as he raised the glass to his eyes.

"God have mercy—it is he!"

The words fell from his whitening lips in a horrified whisper, as the prisoner's features were brought near with terrible distinctness, under the red glare of the fire the anguished brow, the drawn lips, the imploring eyes, and the ghastly pallor, as with clenched hands the wretched man tugged madly at the thongs that bound him; and at the awful revelation the Colonel groaned.

The figure was visible to all within that chamber, but the two savages had retreated, leaving the nearly nude victim standing alone, the pitiless sleet driving against his flesh.

With bated breath the watchers waited for the next scene in the terrible drama. It came, and

strong men turned deadly faint, while a sob choked Elizabeth, and she covered her face with both trembling hands, after the first glance, to shut out the horrid sight.

A shower of arrows, sped by unseen marksmen, rained upon the prisoner, bristling in his arms, his legs, his hands and even his feet, but carefully aimed by skilled archers, so as to avoid a vital spot.

Again naught save still life reigned. Even the tortured man had swayed forward and hung motionless, with bowed head and drooping form, upheld only by the strong ligaments that secured his waist to the tree trunk.

"Heaven be merciful!" exclaimed Colonel Lawrence, the great beads of perspiration starting upon his forehead. "Cousin, can we stand by and look upon this accursed work? In God's name, let us make a sortie and drive back these fiends! The sight is more than I can bear!"

But William Lawrence laid his hand warningly upon his kinsman's shoulder.

"It would be madness, Henry, to attempt a rescue!" he exclaimed, with emphasis; "there are at least a hundred powerful Indians, doubtless picked men, and they are skulking within a few yards of the wretched prisoner. We could not save him, and should be but playing into their hands; they hope, by this very means, to decoy us from behind these walls." White Eagle not go-Mohawks like wolfgreat many-kill pale-face, then burn wigwam, shoot white squaw, burn papoose-not go!" warned Canady, earnestly.

"The young warrior is right; he knows the danger," counselled Captain Lawrence.

But, merciful Heaven, William, I cannot remain here idle without raising a hand to aid! Can I

allow the father of the girl I-of a tender maiden like Damaris Gordon, to be tortured before my eyes while there is the slightest hope of affording assistance?" still remonstrated Henry.

"There is not a hope. We should be but falling into the snare they are so cunningly baiting. I know their infernal devices, the ingenuity and diabolical cunning of these Iroquois, the Five Nations, of which the Mohawks are the most dreaded, the most fiendish. They never make prisoners, except for torture. Should we make a dash to the rescue, a hundred yelling monsters would close in upon us; instead of one, my wife, my children, my maids, the entire household, would be forced to witness our torture, and afterwards they would fall into the hands of these fiends. No, cousin, our duty is here; every arm is needed to defend our own lives and the lives of our loved ones, for God alone knows how this thing will end—am I not right, father?"

Receiving no reply, he peered about in the gloom, but Richard Smith was absent.

"Father went down to the rear door to find whether any of the Indians are about the stables," whispered Elizabeth. "He fears they may burn the barn and slaughter the stock."

"Well thought of, wife; in my confusion, I had forgotten the beasts."

A yell pealed out from the edge of the forest, where a swarm of savages thronged about the prisoner, and began circling around him in a wild, grotesque dance, brandishing war-clubs and tomahawks, their fierce cries rising above the moaning of the wind and the continued patter of the sleet.

War-dance," explained Canady.

Henry Lawrence felt a hand upon his arm, and a low whisper close at his ear warned him to silence.

Richard Smith had entered and stood by his side. "Come with me. You are a man after my own heart. We will break up that hellish sport outside, or die."

He turned and slipped from the room, following Richard Smith down the back staircase.

"Hist not a word!" admonished Smith. "They will not discover our absence, for a time at least, and I have hope in a little piece of strategy I have on hand. Come!"

The outer door swung slightly ajar and the twain stood outside in the thick darkness. Smith closed and locked the door, thrust the mammoth key in his pocket, and hurried away, followed by his companion.

In the obscurity none had missed the Colonel, or observed the the entrance of Richard Smith, save Canady, who made no sign.

"Laird save us, laddie!" exclaimed McGregor, believing he was addressing Colonel Lawrence, gang ye theer an' ye coom to dool. Aye, laddie, we maun be flathered an' it wad be by the gudeness o' the Laird wad they tak' his life noo

The old butler's further speech was cut short by an exclamation from Chloe:

"Marse, look dar-dem g'wine kill um right 'way! Look!"

"Gude Laird gie the puir mon the maircy o' a quick endin' o' a' suffering!" groaned McGregor; it is a' to wish for noo."

"It would be a mercy indeed if they would end his suffering," gasped Elizabeth.

Aye, dame, aye!" agreed Captain Lawrence, "it would. If we were but within musket shot I would not hesitate to send a friendly ball, as the kindest office I could perform, and we would be able to send