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           "’Tisanaturalimpossibility!"repeatedthescout;"Iwouldn’twalkamileinthesewoodsafternightgetsintothem,incompanywiththatrunner,forthebestrifleinthecolonies.TheyarefullofoutlyingIroquois,andyourmongrelMohawkknowswheretofindthemtoowell,tobemycompanion."

           "Thinkyouso?"saidHeyward,leaningforwardinthesaddle,anddroppinghisvoicenearlytoawhisper;"IconfessIhavenotbeenwithoutmyownsuspicions,thoughIhaveendeavoredtoconcealthem,andaffectedaconfidenceIhavenotalwaysfelt,onaccountofmycompanions.ItwasbecauseIsuspectedhimthatIwouldfollownolonger;makinghim,asyousee,followme."

           "IknewhewasoneofthecheatsassoonasIlaideyesonhim!"returnedthescout,placingafingeronhisnose,insignofcaution."Thethiefisleaningagainstthefootofthesugarsapling,thatyoucanseeoverthembushes;hisrightlegisinalinewiththebarkofthetree,and,"tappinghisrifle,"IcantakehimfromwhereIstand,betweentheankleandtheknee,withasingleshot,puttinganendtohistrampingthroughthewoods,foratleastamonthtocome.IfIshouldgobacktohim,thecunningvarmintwouldsuspectsomething,andbedodgingthroughthetreeslikeafrighteneddeer."

           "Itwillnotdo.Hemaybeinnocent,andIdisliketheact.Though,ifIfeltconfidentofhistreachery—"

           "’TisasafethingtocalculateontheknaveryofanIroquois,"saidthescout,throwinghisrifleforward,byasortofinstinctivemovement.