“That is very probable; but a stolen child she is, Melchior, and she must not remain here.”

“Must not.”

“Yes; must not, Melchior; when you quit the tribe, you will no longer have any power, nor can you have any interest about her.  She shall then choose—­if she will come with me, I will take her, and nothing shall prevent me; and in so doing I do you no injustice, nor do I swerve in my fidelity.”

“How do you know that?  I may have my secret reasons against it.”

“Surely you can have no interest in a soldier’s brat, Melchior?”

Melchior appeared confused and annoyed.  “She is no soldier’s brat; I acknowledge, Japhet, that the child was stolen; but you must not, therefore, imply that the child was stolen by me or by my wife.”

“I never accused you, or thought you capable of it; and that is the reason why I am now surprised at the interest you take in her.  If she prefers to go with you, I have no more to say, but if not, I claim her; and if she consents, will resist your interference.”

“Japhet,” replied Melchior, after a pause, “we must not quarrel now that we are about to part.  I will give you an answer in half an hour.”

Melchior returned to Nattee, and re-commenced a conversation with her, while I hastened to Fleta.

“Fleta, do you know that the camp is to be broken up, and Melchior and Nattee leave it together?”

“Indeed!” replied she, with surprise.  “Then what is to become of you and Timothy?”

“We must of course seek our fortunes where we can.”

“And of me?” continued she, looking me earnestly in the face with her large blue eyes.  “Am I to stay here?” continued she, with alarm in her countenance.

“Not if you do not wish it, Fleta; as long as I can support you I will—­that is, if you would like to live with me in preference to Melchior.”

“If I would like, Japhet; you must know I would like—­who has been so kind to me as you?  Don’t leave me, Japhet.”

“I will not, Fleta; but on condition that you promise to be guided by me, and to do all I wish.”

“To do what you wish is the greatest pleasure that I have, Japhet—­so I may safely promise that.  What has happened?”

“That I do not know more than yourself; but Melchior tells me that he and Nattee quit the gipsy tents for ever.”

Fleta looked round to ascertain if any one was near us, and then in a low tone said, “I understand their language, Japhet, that is, a great deal of it, although they do not think so, and I overheard what the gipsy said in part, although he was at some distance.  He asked for Melchior; and when Nattee wanted to know what he wanted, he answered that, ‘he was dead;’ then Nattee covered up her face.  I could not hear all the rest, but there was something about a horse.”