Walking thus moodily forward, he was suddenly brought to a standstill by coming in front of an awkward, odd-looking structure, which excited his wonder in no small degree.  The charred remains of the logs of one of the buildings had been collected together and piled one above the other, so that they bore some resemblance to a rudely-fashioned oven.  From the circumstances of the case, these must have been arranged in this manner subsequently to the visit of the Shawnees, and it was this fact which awakened the curiosity of the Lieutenant.  His first supposition was that it was the doings of the Huron.  But what reason could he have had for rearing such a structure?  What possible purpose could it serve him?

All at once it flashed upon the Lieutenant that it was the work of the Shawnees themselves, and he began to view the contrivance with some apprehension.  This feeling was considerably strengthened when he either heard or fancied he heard the movement of some one within it.  Prudence dictated that he should place a little more distance between it and himself.  Accordingly he began to retreat, walking backward and keeping his gaze fixed upon it, ready for any demonstration from his concealed enemies.

Suddenly something within the hollow of the structure fell with a dull thump that nearly lifted the Lieutenant from his feet.  At the same moment he heard a suppressed growl, as if made by a caged bear.  He now began to feel more wonder than fear.

“What in the name of creation is the meaning of that concern, and what sort of animal is caged in it?” he muttered, staying his retreat.

The Lieutenant debated whether or not to approach and examine the interior of the odd-looking hut.  It seemed hardly possible that any human being could be within, although it was certain there was some living object there.

“At any rate I’ll stir him up,” he concluded, resolutely approaching.  The growls were now redoubled, and he really believed some four-footed animal was the cause of all the uproar.

“It may be the Shawnees have attempted a little pleasantry after their bloody work, and caged up some poor creature within those logs,” thought he.  “I’ll let him loose if such be the case.”

He placed his hand upon the stump of a log nearest to him, when a thunderbolt appeared to have exploded before him.  He started back as though he had received an electric shock.  A perfect battery of howls was leveled against him, and for a moment his ears were stunned with the deafening uproar.  He determined, however, to solve the mystery.  Giving the structure a push that brought it tumbling to the ground, he sprung back and held his rifle prepared for any foe, were he a four-footed or a two-footed one.  Instead of either, what was his amazement to see a negro, as black as midnight, emerge from the ruins, and cringe at his feet.

“Oh, Mr. Injine, please don’t shoot! please don’t kill me!  Nice, good Mr. Injine, don’t hurt me!  Please don’t tomahawk poor Cato!  He never hurt an Injine in all his life.  Please don’t!  Oh, don’t! don’t! don’t! boo-hoo! oo!-oo-oo!”