As for Maud, she asked no questions, solicited no pauses, manifested no physical weakness.  Actively as the Indian moved among the trees, she kept close in his footsteps; and she had scarcely begun to reflect on the real nature of the undertaking in which she was engaged, when the roar of the rivulet, and the formation of the land, told her they had reached the edge of the glen below the mills.  Here Nick told her to remain stationary a moment, while he advanced to a covered point of the rocks, to reconnoitre.  This was the place where the Indian had made his first observations of the invaders of the valley, ascertaining their real character before he trusted his person among them.  On the present occasion, his object was to see if all remained, in and about the mills, as when he had last left the spot.

“Come”—­said Nick, signing for Maud to follow him—­“we go—­fools sleep, and eat, and talk.  Major prisoner now; half an hour, Major free.”

This was enough for the ardent, devoted, generous-hearted Maud.  She descended the path before her as swiftly as her guide could lead, and, in five more minutes, they reached the bank of the stream, in the glen, at a point where a curvature hid the rivulet from those at the mill.  Here an enormous pine had been laid across the torrent; and, flattened on its upper surface, it made a secure bridge for those who were sure of foot, and steady of eye.  Nick glanced back at his companion, as he stepped upon this bridge, to ascertain if she were equal to crossing it, a single glance sufficing to tell him apprehensions were unnecessary.  Half a minute placed both, in safety, on the western bank.

“Good!” muttered the Indian; “young squaw make wife for warrior.”

But Maud heard neither the compliment nor the expression of countenance which accompanied it.  She merely made an impatient gesture to proceed.  Nick gazed intently at the excited girl; and there was an instant when he seemed to waver in his own purpose; but the gesture repeated, caused him to turn, and lead the way up the glen.

The progress of Nick now, necessarily, became more guarded and slower.  He was soon obliged to quit the common path, and to incline to the left, more against the side of the cliff, for the purposes of concealment.  From the time he had struck the simple bridge, until he took this precaution, his course had lain along what might have been termed the common highway, on which there was always the danger of meeting some messenger, travelling to or from the valley.

But Nick was at no loss for paths.  There were plenty of them; and the one he took soon brought him out into that by which Captain Willoughby had descended to the lean-to.  When the spot was reached where Joyce had halted, Nick paused; and, first listening intently, to catch the sound of noises, if any might happen to be in dangerous proximity, he addressed his companion: 

“Young squaw bold,” he said, encouragingly; “now want heart of warrior.”