You know Burns told you just now,--and he is an old scout, familiar with the West,--that British agents were active along the whole border, and there was great uneasiness among the Indian tribes." "There is serious promise of danger, 't is true," he admitted, a flash of the old fire in his eyes.

"Yet that is scarce likely to halt David Wayland's son.

Indeed, it is the greater reason why this helpless orphan child should be early brought to our protection.

Think of the defenceless little girl exposed alone to such danger! Nor have we means of judging, Mary, of the real seriousness of the situation to the north and west.

War between the nations may very likely arouse the spirit of the savages, yet rumors of Indian outbreak are always on the lips of the settlers.