Mary soon drew her breath with difficulty—her brain went round and round, she felt that she was dying.
In fact, life must have deserted her in a few minutes, but for a singular interposition, the phantom-like figure which has been mentioned, appearing suddenly on the branch of a tree and waving its arms to the natives in a frantic manner.
"Berch, hounds and dogs!" it exclaimed in hollow voice; "what would ye do. I forbid this work. Terrible misfortune will attend ye, if ye keep on thus persecuting those prisoners."
Brand, hearing that voice, turned his head.
As he did so, the form suddenly vanished.
The natives stood looking at each other in surprise. Brand noticing their astonishment, thought he might turn it to good account.
No other consideration but that of saving his life could have tempted him to speak of the vision of the murdered passenger to a living soul.
"Indians," said he, "I would at once speak to your chief."
The men who held him understood him sufficiently to make known his request to their leader, who, forthwith, appeared floundering through the water.
"What want? Speak quick!"