All this time, the major kept so far aloof as not to be recognised, though Joel, once or twice, betrayed symptoms of a desire to ascertain who he was.  Maud had awakened suspicions that now became active, in both father and son, when circumstances so unexpectedly and inconveniently threw the man in their way.  It was consequently the wish of the former to get rid of his overseer as soon as possible.  Previously to doing this, however, he saw fit to interrogate him a little further.

“Have you seen anything of the Indians since you left the stockade, Strides?” demanded the captain.  “We can perceive no other traces of their presence than yonder fires, though we think that some of them must have passed this way, for Whiteback’s udder is empty.”

“To own the truth, captain, I haven’t.  I some think that they’ve left the valley; though the Lord only can tell when they’ll be back ag’in.  Such critturs be beyond calcilation!  They outdo arithmetic, nohow.  As for the cow, I milked her myself; for being the crittur the captain has given to Phoebe for her little dairy, I thought it might hurt her not to be attended to.  The pail stands yonder, under the fence, and the women and children in the Hut may be glad enough to see it in the morning.”

This was very characteristic of Joel Strides.  He did not hesitate about disobeying orders, or even to risk his life, in order to secure his money; but, determined to come out, he had the forethought and care to bring a pail, in order to supply the wants of those who were now crowded within the stockade, and who were too much accustomed to this particular sort of food, not to suffer from its absence.  If we add, that, in the midst of all this prudent attention to the wants of his companions, Joel had an eye to his personal popularity and what are called “ulterior events”, and that he selected his own cow for the precise reason given, the reader has certain distinctive traits of the man before him.

“This being the case,” returned the captain, a good deal relieved at finding that the savages had not been the agents in this milking affair, since it left the probability of their remaining stationary—­“This being the case, Joel, you had better find the pail, and go in.  As soon as day dawns, however, I recommend that all the cows be called up to the stockade and milked generally.  They are feeding in the lanes, just now, and will come readily, if properly invited.  Go, then, but say nothing of having met me, and—­”

“Who else did the captain say?” inquired Joel, curiously, observing that the other paused.

“Say nothing of having met us at all, I tell you.  It is very important that my movements should be secret.”