Although this observation was made almost without object, it being totally impossible for any musket, even with the addition of its bayonet, to reach more than half way across the ditch, the several sentinels threw themselves on their chests, and, stretching over the rampart as far as possible, made the attempt to reach the suspicious looking object that lay beyond.  No sooner, however, had their arms been extended in such a manner as to be utterly powerless, when the dark mass was seen to roll away in an opposite direction, and with such rapidity that, before the men could regain their feet and level their muskets, it had entirely disappeared from their view.

“Cleverly managed, to give the red skin his due,” half laughingly observed Captain Erskine, while his brother officers continued to fix their eyes in astonishment on the spot so recently occupied by the strange object; “but what the devil could be his motive for lying there so long?  Not playing the eaves-dropper, surely; and yet, if he meant to have picked off a sentinel, what was to have prevented him from doing it sooner?”

“He had evidently no arms,” said Ensign Delme.

“No, nor legs either, it would appear,” resumed the literal Erskine.  “Curse me if I ever saw any thing in the shape of a human form bundled together in that manner.”

“I mean he had no fire-arms—­no rifle,” pursued Delme.

“And if he had, he certainly would have rifled one of us of a life,” continued the captain, laughing at his own conceit.  “But come, the bird is flown, and we have only to thank ourselves for having been so egregiously duped.  Had Valletort been here, he would have given a different account of him.”

“Hist! listen!” exclaimed Lieutenant Johnstone, calling the attention of the party to a peculiar and low sound in the direction in which the supposed Indian had departed.

It was repeated, and in a plaintive tone, indicating a desire to propitiate.  Soon afterwards a human form was seen advancing slowly, but without show either of concealment or hostility in its movements.  It finally remained stationary on the spot where the dark and shapeless mass had been first perceived.

“Another Oucanasta for De Haldimar, no doubt,” observed Captain Erskine, after a moment’s pause.  “These grenadiers carry every thing before them as well in love as in war.”

The error of the good-natured officer was, however, obvious to all but himself.  The figure, which was now distinctly traced in outline for that of a warrior, stood boldly and fearlessly on the brink of the ditch, holding up its left arm, in the hand of which dangled something that was visible in the starlight, and pointing energetically to this pendant object with the other.

A voice from one of the party now addressed the Indian in two several dialects, but without eliciting a reply.  He either understood not, or would not answer the question proposed, but continued pointing significantly to the indistinct object which he still held forth in an elevated position.