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           "Well,then,amongtheotherthings,youmayknowthenameofitsmajor?"

           "Itsmajor!"interruptedthehunter,elevatinghisbodylikeonewhowasproudofhistrust."IfthereisamaninthecountrywhoknowsMajorEffingham,hestandsbeforeyou."

           "Itisacorpswhichhasmanymajors;thegentlemanyounameisthesenior,butIspeakofthejuniorofthemall;hewhocommandsthecompaniesingarrisonatWilliamHenry."

           "Yes,yes,Ihaveheardthatayounggentlemanofvastriches,fromoneoftheprovincesfarsouth,hasgottheplace.Heisoveryoung,too,toholdsuchrank,andtobeputabovemenwhoseheadsarebeginningtobleach;andyettheysayheisasoldierinhisknowledge,andagallantgentleman!"

           "Whateverhemaybe,orhoweverhemaybequalifiedforhisrank,henowspeakstoyou,andofcoursecanbenoenemytodread."

           ThescoutregardedHeywardinsurprise,andthenliftinghiscap,heanswered,inatonelessconfidentthanbefore,thoughstillexpressingdoubt—

           "Ihaveheardapartywastoleavetheencampmentthismorning,forthelakeshore."

           "Youhaveheardthetruth;butIpreferredanearerroute,trustingtotheknowledgeoftheIndianImentioned."

           "Andhedeceivedyou,andthendeserted?"

           "Neither,asIbelieve;certainlynotthelatter,forheistobefoundintherear.