When the young stranger recovered his senses, after a lapse of some ten minutes, his glance rested on the form of a white hunter, of noble aspect, who was bending over him with a compassionate look; and who, meantime, had opened his dress to the wound and stanched the blood, by covering it with a few pieces of coarse linen, which he had torn into shreds for the purpose, and secured there by means of his belt.

As this latter personage is destined to figure somewhat in the following pages, we shall take this opportunity of describing him as he appeared to our wounded friend.

In height and proportion—­but not in age—­these two individuals were somewhat alike—­the new comer being full five feet, ten inches, with a robust, athletic frame, and all the concomitants of a powerful man.  At the moment when first beheld by the young man, after regaining his senses, he was kneeling by his side, his cap of the wild-cat skin was lying on the ground, and the last mellow rays of the setting sun were streaming upon an intelligent and manly countenance, which, now rendered more deeply interesting by the earnest, compassionate look wherewith he regarded the other, made him appear to that other, in his peculiar situation, this most noble being he had ever seen.  Of years he had seen some fifty; though there was a freshness about his face, owing probably to his hardy, healthy mode of life, which made him appear much younger.  His countenance was open and pleasing, with good, regular, though not, strictly speaking, handsome features.  His forehead was high and full, beneath which beamed a mild, clear blue eye.  His nose was rather long and angular; his cheekbones high and bold; his lips thin and compressed, covering a goodly set of teeth; his chin round and prominent; the whole together conveying an expression of energy, decision, hardy recklessness and manly courage.  His dress was fashioned much like the other’s, already described, but of coarser materials—­the frock being of linsey-woolsey; the breeches and leggings of deerskin; and the moccasins, in place of boots of the same material.  Around his waist passed a belt; wherein, instead of pistols, were confined a tomahawk and scalping knife—­two weapons which were considered as indispensable to the regular white hunter of that day as to the Indian warrior himself.

So soon as the elder of the two became aware of consciousness on the part of the younger, a friendly smile succeeded to the look of anxiety with which he had been regarding him; and in the frank, cordial, familiar tone of that period, when every man’s cabin was the traveler’s home, and every strange guest was treated with the hospitality of an old acquaintance, he said: 

“Well, stranger, I’m right glad to welcome you back to life agin; for I war beginning to fear your account with earthly matters had closed.  By the Power that made me! but you’ve had a narrow escape on’t; and ef Betsy (putting his hand on his rifle, which was lying by his side,) hadn’t spoke out as she did, that thar red skin varmint (pointing to the dead Indian) would have been skulking now like a thief through yonder woods, with your crown piece hanging to his girdle.”