"Can it be possible? I cannot dispute you, and yet—"
A tall figure, walking erect, assumed form in the gloom, and was upon the startled lovers before they were aware of it.
Young Ashbridge was in the act of bringing his rifle to a level, when Weber Hastings spoke.
"Not too fast, younkers. I'm afeared I didn't do the best thing in the world, when I placed you two so near each other."
"No matter where you placed her," replied the youth, "you did a good thing for the rest. She has sharper eyes than any of us, for she has seen what nobody else saw."
"What's that? What's that?"
"Within the last three minutes," said Agnes, "one of the Shawanoes passed by this boulder behind which I have been sitting, and is now somewhere within the inclosure. Oh, I wonder if he means any harm to your folks, George, or mine!"
And spurred by her new terror she hurried across the brief intervening space to where her mother and Miss Altman were sitting trembling, and occasionally whispering in the darkness.
Thank heaven! no harm had befallen them, and since there was no call for her to return to George Ashbridge and Weber Hastings, she remained with those that were so near and dear to her.
"Them varmints are gettin' pow'rful sassy," was the comment of Hastings, who, now that the truth was known, seemed to lose all the excitement he had first shown. "You don't think the gal was mistook?"