“I have told you of overhanging peril; yet I have told you but half.  You are unable to escape from the net that is woven around you—­you have no means in your power to free yourself from the unseen toils that have been secretly laid to ensnare you.  Every step you take is one of danger, and every effort you make to flee from that danger, may but drive you nearer to destruction.  Such is the nature of your enemy’s operations, that while they are secret, they are sure; and so thoroughly has every preparation been made, and so exact has every minute particular been examined and attended to, there is no possibility of his scheme failing, and equally no possibility for you to escape.”

“Your words are words of doom.  How am I to interpret your enigmatical conduct?  But now I thought you a friend, come to give me timely warning to guard against threatened danger, when, all at once, you declare my situation a hopeless one!  If you are my friend, why not warn me sooner, and in time?”

This was said in a firm manner, and gave the stranger to understand he had no common, timid nature to deal with.  The truth was, the thought had flashed across Ellen’s mind that this man was some way connected with Durant, perhaps employed by him, and she began to conclude it might be a trick to frighten her, after all.  If so, or if not, she determined to meet boldly what he had to say.  The man perceived the change, and replied: 

“My seemingly enigmatical conduct is easily explained.  It is true I have a long time been known to the fact that most determined designs of mischief were entertained against you, and that your enemy was ceaselessly at work to perfect his plans; but just as I was preparing to come to inform you of this state of affairs, I was so unfortunate as to be desperately wounded in battle with the Indians.  I have but just recovered; the fresh scar you can see on my temple.”

And brushing away the hair, he exposed a hardly healed, terrible gash.  This appeared to satisfy his listener.

“I have, therefore, done the best I could, and you must charge the rest to fate—­a fate whose inexorable decree I almost rebeled against bowing to.  But I am here, my warning is given, and I can only regret that it comes so late.”

These words and the exhibition of the scar restored Ellen’s confidence in the stranger, and, with it, her fears returned.  He perceived this, and proceeded: 

“Though your case is a desperate one, there is still some hope; there is a possibility of your deliverance from impending peril.”

“Then let me know how I am to act.”

“I fear to do so.”

“Why fear?”

“It may prove a desperate alternative.”

“Nothing can be so dreadful as falling into the hands of my enemy.”

“Perhaps not; still you may be unable to choose between the evils.”

“Let me know them, and I will try.”

“As I said, it may be a desperate alternative, and I must ask of you beforehand to pardon me for being compelled to give you only the choice between what may prove one of two equally direful evils.  Your only hope of relief from present evil is in me.”