There was indeed a movement within the stockade.  Maud’s absence was now clearly ascertained, and it is needless to describe the commotion the circumstance produced.  No one thought any longer of the half of the gate that still remained to be hung, but every supposable part of the house and enclosure had been examined in quest of her who was missing.  Our heroine’s last remark, however, was produced by certain indications of an intention to make a descent from one of the external windows of the common parlour, a room it will be remembered that stood on the little cliff, above the rivulet that wound beneath its base.  This cliff was about forty feet high, and though it offered a formidable obstacle to any attempt to scale it, there was no great difficulty in an active man’s descending, aided by a rope.  The spot, too, was completely concealed from the view of the party which still remained on the rock, near the mill, at a distance of quite half a mile from the gates of the stockade.  This fact greatly facilitated the little sortie, since, once in the bed of the rivulet, which was fringed with bushes, it would be very practicable, by following its windings, to gain the forest unseen.  The major levelled his glass at the windows, and immediately saw the truth of all that has here been mentioned.

“They are preparing to send a party out,” he said, “and doubtless in quest of you, Maud.  The thing is very feasible, provided the savages remain much longer in their present position.  It is matter of surprise to me, that the last have not sent a force in the rear of the Hut, where the windows are at least exposed to fire, and the forest is so close as to afford a cover to the assailants.  In front there is literally none, but a few low fences, which is the reason I presume that they keep so much aloof.”

“It is not probable they know the valley.  With the exception of Nick, but few Indians have ever visited us, and that rarely.  Those we have seen have all been of the most peaceable and friendly tribes; not a true warrior, as my father says, ever having been found among them.  Nick is the only one of them all that can thus be termed.”

“Is it possible that fellow has led this party?  I have never more than half confided in him, and yet he is too old a friend of the family, I should think, to be guilty of such an act of baseness.”

“My father thinks him a knave, but I question if he has an opinion of him as bad as that.  Besides, he knows the valley, and would have led the Indians round into the rear of the house, if it be a place so much more favourable for the attack, as you suppose.  These wretches have come by the common paths, all of which first strike the river, as you know, below the mills.”

“That is true.  I lost my way, a few miles from this, the path being very blind on the eastern route, which I travelled as having gone it last with Nick, and thinking it the safest.  Fortunately I recognised the crest of this mountain above us, by its shape, or I might never have found my way; although the streams, when struck, are certain guides to the woodsman.  As soon as I hit the cow-paths, I knew they would lead me to the barns and sheds.  See! a man is actually descending from a window!”