"
"How meanest thou?" hastily exclaimed the other, "at hand, in the forest,
didst say?"
"There can be little doubt. One young as this would scarce be found
distant from the warriors of his tribe; and that the more especially, as
he was taken in the commission of an ambush."
"I hope thy people are not without good provision of arms, and other
sufficient muniments of resistance. I trust the palisadoes are firm, and
the posterns ingeniously defended."
"We look with a diligent eye to our safety, for it is well known to us
dwellers on the borders that there is little security but in untiring
watchfulness. The young men were at the gates until the morning, and we
did intend to make a strong scouting into the woods as the day advanced,
in order to look for those signs that may lead us to conclusions on the
number and purposes of those by whom we are environed, had not thy visit
called us to other duties."
"And why so tardy in speaking of this intent?" demanded the agent of the
King, leading the way down the ladder with suspicious haste.
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