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‘Do you mean,’ he said, with an effort, ‘that you thought some of Buffalo Bill’s Indians had managed to escape?‘

‘Well, I don’t know any other way to account for such a thing. Do you?’

Clarence did not answer this question directly: ‘But,’ he objected desperately, ‘those were converted Indians. They went to church, and the Lyceum, and all that!’

Uncle Lambert shrugged his shoulders: ‘Once an Indian always an Indian!’ he said. ‘They must have their fling now and then, I suppose, and then the old Adam crops up. And you see,’ he added, ‘it cropped up in that attack on you the other night. Fortunately for us, and indeed for the whole country, you were prepared for them–otherwise no one can tell what horrors we might not have seen.’

‘We may–we may see them yet!’ said the hero, gloomily. ‘Just look at this, Mr. Jolliffe.’

Lambert took the bark from him, and read it with a thoughtful frown. At last he said:

‘Well, I rather expected something of this sort when I saw you posting up all those insulting notices–Indians are so confoundedly touchy, you know.’

‘You might have said that at the time, then!’ exclaimed the General reproachfully.

Lambert lifted his eyebrows.

‘My dear chap, I thought you knew. Wasn’t that what you were all driving at?’

‘Not me,’ said Clarence. ‘I was against it from the first. I told them it was caddish to insult a fallen foe, but they would go and stick up those beastly notices.’

‘All’s well that ends well, eh? You’ve got a rise out of ’em this time. I congratulate you, my boy, on getting the chance of a second brush with the Indians. And this time you’ll have the army with you.’

‘A lot of good they are!’ said Clarence, in a muffled voice.

‘Come, it’s not good form for a General to run down his troops; but you heroes are always so modest. I’ll be bound, now, you’ve determined not to mention this in the house till the danger is passed?’

‘No, I haven’t, though. I shall mention it, most likely. Why not?’

‘To save them useless anxiety. Because, unless I am wrong, you see cause to apprehend (I must ask you not to conceal anything from me)–to apprehend that this will be a more serious affair than the last?’

‘Yes, I do,’ replied the General, promptly, ‘a good deal.’

‘I feared as much,’ said Uncle Lambert, with a very grave face. ‘But in that case, isn’t it as well not to terrify my sister and those poor girls unnecessarily?’

‘I don’t see that. Mrs. Jolliffe might think we ought to be guarding the inside of the house.’

‘Oh,’ said Uncle Lambert, ‘but I should object to that strongly. You see it’s very plain that it’s you the Yellow Vulture’s after. He won’t think of coming near the house unless you’re in it, and then what will become of us all?’

‘You’ll take care you don’t get mixed up in it, I can see,’ said Tinling, savagely.

‘I shall take very good care indeed. Oh, but you must make allowances for me, my boy. Remember, I’ve not been in military training for days and days, as you have.’

‘If that’s all, I could get you up in the drill in half-an-hour,’ proposed Tinling, eagerly.

‘Thanks, but I have a better reason still. Tastes differ so much. You like to spend your evenings in beating off wild Indians from a stockade. Now, I prefer a plain, comfortable dinner, and a quiet cigar. I’m not sure that your way isn’t the manlier of the two–but it’s not nearly so much in my line.’

‘Why don’t you say you’re a funk, and have done with it?’ Tinling said rudely.

‘My dear young friend,’ was the placid answer, ‘if Providence has endowed you with a meed of personal courage beyond that of others, it is ungraceful to taunt those who are less fortunate. While I am by no means prepared to admit that I am what you so pleasingly term “a funk,” I readily allow that—-‘