"It is done. He will trouble us no more!" said Rains.
"He is buried alive!"
"Yes, but no matter. Let us return to camp!"
The rescuer of Fall-leaf, after his escape, pushed rapidly forward to the river bank. Here he paused for a moment and listened. No sound was heard. He placed his ear to the ground.
"They are no longer in pursuit, but are returning to camp," he muttered, after a pause. Then he drew a small whistle from his pocket, and sounded a shrill note. There was no reply, and he repeated the call. Still there was no answer.
"Has he been seized by those ruffians? If so, I must return to his rescue. But, stay. I heard the report of a rifle, and then a sharp cry. He may have met some of the soldiers, and suffered at their hands. At all events, it will be useless now for me to go again to camp, as the guard will be doubly vigilant. I will return to the cabin, and if Fall-leaf does not appear by nightfall, I will then go in search of him. Perhaps Johnson will accompany me."
He plunged into the river, and soon reached the other side. Onward he went, up the mountain, not pausing for a moment, showing himself perfectly familiar with the locality. At length he emerged into an open space, near the summit of the ridge he had been traversing, at the opposite side of which appeared a rude log cabin. He sprang forward with a smile as his eyes fell upon the dwelling, but as he came nearer the smile faded, and a look of wonder, or painful anxiety, became fixed upon his face. At length he paused and exclaimed:
"What means all this? How I tremble! What forebodings flash across my brain! If harm has come to them, I shall go mad, mad! Oh! my father—my dear sister, why are you not upon the threshold to welcome my return? No answer! All is silent there—and all is desolation, too. The creeping vines are torn away—the flowers choked with weeds—the beauty of the place departed—she is not there, else it would not be so! And I am doomed to—I must be satisfied first. Alibamo! Sister! Alibamo!" His voice rang out with startling clearness.
"Who calls! William! Brother!"
"Johnson—my best friend—oh! you are yet living!" cried William, as he sprang into the arms of Johnson, who had appeared in the cabin door.