The Pirates of the Prairies

rooded over the prairie; all were asleep in the island save the two Canadian sentries, who, leaning on their ri

e trees, and shook their tufted crests,

o while away the tedium of their long sentry go, to which they were condemned, wh

h a smile, sat down on the grass, and with a graceful gesture made t

o smiled on them with that infantile

alking when

wered, "we were

?" she

t we joined this troop of bandits?"

g here?" she asked,

t in our place among these villains. We are free and loyal hu

of that when my pres

mained

oldly!" s

t such a life is as oppress

d to you to fly, and leave these men whose hands are con

"alas! Although these men are cr

n following you everywhere, you

my father and brother would a

d n

no hop

?" Harry excl

ollow you," she

speaking, Ellen? Do you really consent to a

have thought deeply, and the more I reflect the more

?" the hunter excla

is vague and surrounded by shadows in my mind) I can remember anot

ember nothin

, a man with a proud glance, and of tall stature, who ta

e hunters exclaimed,

hing more, but a man carrying me off t

re was a lengthened silence, during which the Canadians attentively observed her: at len

you of me?

u a que

pe

u never tried to clear up your d

e answere

el

shrugged his shoulders, and answered, 'You are silly, Ellen; you must have had a bad dream. That story is absur

ck the butt of his rifle fiercely on the ground, "I te

ts of vultures," Harry added. "No, Elle

e hunters by the arm, and, after l

rt and told me that this man cannot be my father; that is why I, who, up to this day, have always refu

nd myself will risk death to protect or defend. You shall always be a sister to us, and in that desert we are about to traverse in order to rea

u can, in all confidence, place yourself under the safeguard

w your honour. I accept without reservation, pers

o men

we start?"

advantage of Red Cedar's

marked, but added, with some hesitati

ourself,"

llent one, Ellen, and we gladly assent to it. The young Mexican lady can accompany you. If it be

ng man a look, and

she replied. "I thank you for having gues

thing else yo

N

sinos are asleep. Red Cedar is absent. We have nought to fear, but you had better make haste, so that before sunr

utes," the maiden said, and s

and fears, had not allowed her to enjoy a moment's rest. With eye and ear on the watch, she listened to the v

ns' preparations for flight were not lengthy, for th

all coffer, about the size of her hand, of carved rosewood, inlaid with silver, which the squatter hardly ever l

y an intuitive movement, for which she could not account, but whic

she said to

xican replied, laconically

e clearing, and proceeded in the direction of the Canadians. The gam

could find, Harry collected the saddles and bridles of the other horses, and threw them into the river, where they immediately disappeared

the Canadians placed themselves at their side, and the fugitives forced their horses into the river. Fortunately, the water wa

ere concealed in the tall grass, so as not to be seen from the island, they dre

ve before us to travel the whole

eeking us on the island, and in providing some substitute for the bridles, will give

y said; "but, before startin

must follow is easily settled: we mu

nother. Our principal object is to get off as soon as possible

n sm

ormed part of the band-left the camp before us, in order to wa

t us be off, and not spare our horses,

rthwestern direction, as had been agreed on. The four riders soon disappeared in the darkness; the

e peacefully sleep