Presently the latter emerged from the shadows of the woods into the opening on the rock. Here they halted. Our friends saw that it was a man and woman, sure enough. But who were they?
Neither spoke, and it was too dark to distinguish their features.
For several moments they stood upon the rock.
Al last the woman asked:
“Why do you stop here?”
Town. started. He recognized the voice, and its soft musical tone seemed to echo through the chambers of his wildly-throbbing heart.
The man made no reply to her question, but turning, he seized her, dragged her to the edge of the rock, and hurled her over the precipice into the lake, twenty feet below.
There was a wild, despairing shriek—a loud plash in the water, then all was over.
“Save her, for God’s sake, Mahaska!” whispered Town. to the chief, who, like a shadow, glided from the young man’s side as he spoke.
Old Tumult cocked his rifle, and leveled it at the breast of the unknown murderer, but he did not fire. The figure of another woman was seen to glide from the shadow of the woods, and throw herself into the open arms of the man.