The Indians already present were not seated.  They stood in groups conversing, or stalked across the arena, resembling so many dark and stately spectres.  No sound was heard among them, a circumstance that added largely to the wild and supernatural aspect of the scene.  If any spoke, it was in a tone so low and gentle, as to carry the sound no farther than to the ears that were listening; two never spoke at the same time and in the same group, while the moccasin permitted no footfall to be audible.  Nothing could have been more unearthly than the picture presented in that little, wood-circled arena, of velvet-like grass and rural beauty.  The erect, stalking forms, half naked, if not even more; the swarthy skins; the faces fierce in the savage conceits which were intended to strike terror into the bosoms of enemies, and the glittering eyes that fairly sparkled in their midst, all contributed to the character of the scene, which le Bourdon rightly enough imagined was altogether much the most remarkable of any he had ever been in the way of witnessing.

Our two spectators might have been seated on the fallen tree half an hour, all of which time they had been gazing at what was passing before their eyes; with positively not a human sound to relieve the unearthly nature of the picture.  No one spoke, coughed, laughed, or exclaimed, in all that period.  Suddenly, every chief stood still, and all the faces turned in the same direction.  It was toward the little gateway of the rill, which being the side of the arena most remote from the bee-hunter and the corporal, lay nearly in darkness as respected them.  With the red men it must have been different, for they all appeared to be in intent expectation of some one from that quarter.  Nor did they have to wait long; for, in half a minute, two forms came out of the obscurity, advancing with a dignified and deliberate tread to the centre of the arena.  As these newcomers got more within the influence of the flickering light, le Bourdon saw that they were Peter and Parson Amen.  The first led, with a slow, imposing manner, while the other followed, not a little bewildered with what he saw.  It may be as well to explain here, that the Indian was coming alone to this place of meeting, when he encountered the missionary wandering among the oaks, looking for le Bourdon and the corporal, and, instead of endeavoring to throw off this unexpected companion, he quietly invited him to be of his own party.

It was evident to le Bourdon, at a glance, that Peter was expected, though it was not quite so clear that such was the fact as regarded his companion.  Still, respect for the great chief prevented any manifestations of surprise or discontent, and the medicine-man of the pale-faces was received with as grave a courtesy as if he had been an invited guest.  Just as the two had entered the dark circle that formed around them, a young chief threw some dry sticks on the fire, which blazing upward, cast a stronger light on a row