There was no mistaking his identity, for there was the same peculiar dress, the same drooping war-locks. The stranger advanced unhesitatingly, and as he entered into the circle of light projected by the lamp, he threw off his disguise, displaying to view the features of our old and trusty friend, the faithful scout and patriot—War-Cloud.
For a moment Imogene was speechless.
“What! War-Cloud, you here, too!” she exclaimed, at length, with a look of amazement.
She was about to speak further, but the scout raised his finger with a significant gesture, warning her to remain quiet. In answer to her anxious, inquiring look, he related in a few hurried sentences the ruse he had practiced to enable him to join the band, and how he accidentally learned of her presence in the cave, through two Tories whose services he had enlisted in a conspiracy he had formed for the abduction of Iron Hand.
Imogene listened with wrapt attention. At the conclusion, War-Cloud ordered her to be prepared to take her departure at midnight, and then withdrew from the place as noiselessly as he had entered.
Finding herself once more alone, Imogene, assuming an attitude of prayer, poured out her soul in fervent thanksgiving to Him who is the dispenser of all blessings.
The scout hastened back to his accomplices, of whom he had spoken. It appears that immediately after joining the League, he had noticed, with his natural keen perception, a lurking spirit of dissatisfaction among several members of the band, especially among two in particular.
By fomenting this turbulent spirit, and by promises of sharing the bounteous reward offered for the capture of the Tory chieftain, he had succeeded in bringing them over to his views, at the same time without permitting them to obtain even an inkling of his own real character.
With their plans thus well matured, the conspirators prepared to put them into execution. Scarcely had the gun from one of the neighboring frontier forts boomed the hour of midnight, when they quietly arose, and stepping carefully over the bodies of their sleeping companions, hurried to the apartment of Imogene, who, fearful that every moment would herald the advent of her detested suitor, Iron Hand, was impatiently awaiting them.
The crisis of their undertaking had now arrived. To succeed in leaving the place without causing any alarm, was the only difficulty. As soon as they arrived at the mouth of the cave, the sentinel stationed there hailed them, but with the rapidity of lightning, War-Cloud sprung upon him, and bearing him to the earth, firmly secured him.