VISITORS. 
57 
or plunder was at hand ; finding them alone, they 
would not hesitate to kill them and take what 
they had, for there would be no danger of the 
deed being reported and the terrible vengeance 
of the whites aroused ; the nearest settlement 
alone could afford them protection. With all 
haste they both began to harness the horses. 
Their fears and preparations, however, were 
soon ended by the appearance of the dog from 
whose teeth she had so recently escaped, and two 
men, considerably excited in their appearance, 
but still, unmistakably, not savages! The har- 
nessing was suspended, and they were conscious 
of but two sensations : a relief from fear, and 
curiosity with regard to their approaching visitors. 
Mrs. Maxwell advanced toward the dog, and, 
with many motions tending to show her good-will 
and win his, asked if he was the same fellow she 
had excited so a few minutes before. 
The men, two rough, honest-looking young 
frontiersmen, replied that he was ; the taller, an 
odd-looking genius, adding: 
“ We wasn’t the only one you scared— not by 
fifty horse-power! When I heard that gun I 
thought the Injuns was on us, dead sure ! I tell 
you I didn’t waste no time foolin’, dressin’ an’ 
fixin’ up and the like, afore I was out, ready to 
give the cusses what they all need ! ” 
“ But how did you come to be in the fort ? ” 
