“We heard a strange sound within the orchard, while waiting here for your return,” said the taller officer; “it was like the footstep of a man treading cautiously over rotten leaves and branches.  How do you account for it?”

“Oh, it was my pigs,” replied the Canadian, without manifesting the slightest uneasiness at the information.  “They run about in de orchard for de apples what blows down wid de wind.”

“It could not be a pig we heard,” pursued his questioner; “but another thing, Francois, before we consent to enter the hut,—­how will you account to your daughter for our presence? and what suspicion may she not form at seeing two armed strangers in company with you at this unseasonable hour.”

“I have tell her,” replied the Canadian, “dat I have bring two friends, who go wid me in de canoe to shoot de ducks for two tree days.  You know, sir, I go always in de fall to kill de ducks wid my friends, and she will not tink it strange.”

“You have managed well, my brave fellow; and now we follow you in confidence.  But in the name of Heaven, use all possible despatch, and if money will lend a spur to your actions, you shall have plenty of it when our enterprise has been accomplished.”

Our adventurers followed their conductor in the track by which he had so recently rejoined them.  As they turned the corner of the hut, the younger, who brought up the rear, fancied he again heard a sound in the direction of the orchard, resembling that of one lightly leaping to the ground.  A gust of wind, however, passing rapidly at the moment through the dense foliage, led him to believe it might have been produced by the sullen fall of one of the heavy fruits it had detached in its course.  Unwilling to excite new and unnecessary suspicion in his companion, he confined the circumstance to his own breast, and followed into the hut.

After ascending a flight of about a dozen rude steps, they found themselves in a small room, furnished with no other ceiling than the sloping roof itself, and lighted by an unwieldy iron lamp, placed on a heavy oak table, near the only window with which the apartment was provided.  This latter had suffered much from the influence of time and tempest; and owing to the difficulty of procuring glass in so remote a region, had been patched with slips of paper in various parts.  The two corner and lower panes of the bottom sash were out altogether, and pine shingles, such as are used even at the present day for covering the roofs of dwelling houses, had been fitted into the squares, excluding air and light at the same time.  The centre pane of this tier was, however, clear and free from flaw of every description.  Opposite to the window blazed a cheerful wood fire, recently supplied with fuel; and at one of the inner corners of the room was placed a low uncurtained bed, that exhibited marks of having been lain in since it was last made.  On a chair at its side were heaped a few dark-looking garments, the precise nature of which were not distinguishable at a cursory and distant glance.