scalping-knife came very close to doing its horrid work."

"Yes: they spared me--he spared me--when he had made me suffer what
was tenfold worse than death; yet I wot well he only thought to
leave me to a lingering death of anguish, more terrible than that
of the scalping knife! They knew not that I had any to come to my
succour. When he drew off the howling Indians and left me bound to
the stump, he thought he left me to perish of starvation and
burning thirst. It was no mercy that he showed me--rather a
refinement of cruelty. I begged him to make an end of my wretched
life; but he smiled, and bid me a mocking farewell.

"Great God of heaven and earth, look down and avenge me of mine
adversary! I trust there are not many such fiends in human shape
even in the ranks of the jealous and all-grasping French. But if
there be, may it be mine to carry death and desolation into their
ranks! May they be driven forth from this fair land which they have
helped to desolate! May death and destruction come swiftly upon
them; and when they fall, let them rise up no more!"

"Amen!" said Humphrey solemnly; and the brothers sat in silence for
a great while, the gloom hiding them the one from the other, though
they knew that their hearts were beating in sympathy.

"The war has broken out," said Humphrey at last. "We can perchance
find our place in the ranks of those who go to drive out the
oppressive race, whose claims are such as English subjects will not
tolerate."

"Ay, there will be fighting, fighting, fighting now till they are