The Press., 1912-08-07


 He had secretly made the opening to the magazine. concealed 1t and made another through the wall of the fort. Desiring to possess her, he had ar ranged to take her with him when he went back to his people. Doubtless long before dawn he would lead them through the magazine into the fort and massacre the garrison before they could form to repel the attack.
 Evelyn was very strong for girl She had not been captured long be. fore summoning all her strength for a supreme effort-it was enhanced by terror-she wrenched herself from the Indian. and before he could get his grip on her again she darted away for the fort She ran in the dark, but took no thought of falling. Fortune favored her in this. while 1t deserted the Indian He fell, and while he was getting on his feet again Evelyn gained sufficient advantage to reach the opening into the fort and pass through it. When Uncas entered through the same aper ture she was standing by barrel of gunpowder, from which the head had been removed. holding the lantern d. rectly over It.
 "Come a step farther" she said. 'and I'll drop it."
 She stood at bay ready to sacrifice" herself and the Indian. Savage as he was, he at once began to look for some strategem by which he could again get the advantage of her. Drawing away, he feigned fright, then penitence, tell ing her he had been tempted by his passion for her to take her to his own wigwam and make her his wife. He would rather die than harm her.
 This and other things he said. watching her like cat for an oppor tunity to catch her off her guard and get her again in his power. Mean while she was thinking how to get out of his clutches She could hear sen try walking on the parapet. though his steps were only audible to her when he came to that end of his beat near est the magazine He had turned and gone to the other end when she formed a resolution She listened to Uncas as though moved by his penitence till the sentry came back to the end of his beat nearest her. then gave a shriek so loud that had It not been lnclOsed would have awakened the garrison.
 Major Bertrand had given orders that a key to the magazine door should hang in the sentry box of the man who guarded 1t. Since the magazine was never unguarded the key was always within reach, of sentinel. The man, hearing the shriek. seized the key and. opening the door. saw Evelyn standing by a powder barrel. The moment she saw him she pointed to the hole in the wall leading from the magazine by which the Indian had beaten n retreat
 A hasty explanation ensued. and within a few minutes men on horse back started after Uncas. In his fall when chasing Evelyn he had received a sprain which deterred him in his flight Hearing his pursuers near upon him. he crawled under bush. but they had caught sight of him and. pressing on. dragged him out.
 When they reached the fort with hiu they took him to the commandant's quarters. where Evelyn had gone and after a fainting spell. had regained somewhat of her equanimity.
 After a brief examination Uncas was taken out and shot
 So ended an attempt of the Indians to gain by strategem possession of the fort. which doubtless would have been successful had not the man to put it in practice lost his head over a woman Had he not attempted to take Evelyn with him he could easily have intro duced his red brothers and caught the garrison mapping.
 A great change came over those who had turned cold shoulder upon Eve lyn She had warned them against the savage and by her heroism had saved them from being massacred And not tong afterward another matter was cleared up
 Private t'onover was not COnOvpr at all. but Eugene Werner. a gentIeman's s son. who had enlisted In the ranks for the life. the experience and possible commission in the army, Evelyn had recognized him as such when the Oth CTS had either failed to do so or had declined to take notice of the fact. After the episode which had nearly be come tragedy Evelyn openly assO- ciated with him. and Major Bertrand for her sake recommended the young man for a commission. Then he and Evelyn became engaged and were married at the fort. .-
 II was then that latent infatuation several of the officers had conceived for Evelyn 6amed up. and they con demned themselves for not having made an effort to win hee.