saw her father swing it backward and forward on its hinges, to cause it to settle into its place.  This was an immense relief, though she had heard too many tales of Indian warfare, to think there was any imminent danger of an attack by open day, in the very face of the garrison.  The cool manner in which her father proceeded, satisfied her that he felt the same security, for the moment; his great object being, in truth, to make suitable provision against the hours of darkness.

Although Maud had been educated as a lady, and possessed the delicacy and refinement of her class, she had unavoidably caught some of the fire and resolution of a frontier life.  To her, the forest, for instance, possessed no fancied dangers; but when there was real ground for alarm, she estimated its causes intelligently, and with calmness.  So it was, also, in the present crisis.  She remembered all she had been taught, or had heard, and quick of apprehension, her information was justly applied to the estimate of present circumstances.

The men at the Hut soon had the second leaf of the gate ready to be raised.  At this instant, an Indian advanced across the flat alone, bearing a branch of a tree in his hand, and moving swiftly.  This was a flag of truce, desiring to communicate with the pale-faces.  Captain Willoughby met the messenger alone, at the foot of the lawn, and there a conference took place that lasted several minutes.  Maud could only conjecture its objects, though she thought her father’s attitude commanding, and his gestures stern.  The red-man, as usual, was quiet and dignified.  This much our heroine saw, or fancied she saw; but beyond this, of course, all was vague conjecture.  Just as the two were about to part, and had even made courteous signs of their intention, a shout arose from the workmen, which ascended, though faintly, as high as the rock.  Captain Willoughby turned, and then Maud saw his arm extended towards the stockade.  The second leaf of the gate was in its place, swinging to and fro, in a sort of exulting demonstration of its uses!  The savage moved away, more slowly than he had advanced, occasionally stopping to reconnoitre the Knoll and its defences.

Captain Willoughby now returned to his people, and he was some time busied in examining the gates, and giving directions about its fastenings.  Utterly forgetful of her own situation, Maud shed tears of joy, as she saw that this great object was successfully effected.  The stockade was an immense security to the people of the Hut.  Although it certainly might be scaled, such an enterprise would require great caution, courage, and address; and it could hardly be effected, at all, by daylight.  At night, even, it would allow the sentinels time to give the alarm, and with a vigilant look-out, might be the means of repelling an enemy.  There was also another consideration connected with this stockade.  An enemy would not be fond of trusting himself inside of it,