I hope, young woman, if you have no father, you have at least a brother." The maiden felt the tacit reproach conveyed in this covert question, and for a moment she remained in an embarrassed silence.

But catching a glimpse of the mild and serious features of her companion, as he continued to gaze on her with a look of interest, she replied, firmly, and in a manner that left no doubt she comprehended his meaning: "Heaven forbid that any such as you have seen, should be a brother of mine, or any thing else near or dear to me! But, tell me, do you then actually live alone, in this desert district, old man; is there really none here besides yourself ?" "There are hundreds, nay, thousands of the rightful owners of the country, roving about the plains; but few of our own colour." "And have you then met none who are white, but us ?" interrupted the girl, like one too impatient to await the tardy explanations of age and deliberation.
"Not in many days--Hush, Hector, hush," he added in reply to a low, and nearly inaudible, growl from his hound.

"The dog scents mischief in the wind! The black bears from the mountains sometimes make their way, even lower than this.

The pup is not apt to complain of the harmless game.
I am not so ready and true with the piece as I used-to-could-be, yet I have struck even the fiercest animals of the prairie in my time; so, you have little reason for fear, young woman." The girl raised her eyes, in that peculiar manner which is so often practised by her sex, when they commence their glances, by examining the earth at their feet, and terminate them by noting every thing within the power of human vision; but she rather manifested the quality of impatience, than any feeling of alarm.
A short bark from the dog, however, soon gave a new direction to the looks of both, and then the real object of his second warning became dimly visible..