what was that I hearda groan?" Desmond, although brave and vigorous, after all was but a lad of less than eighteen.

Desmond was indeed a fine-looking fellow, well educated comparatively, and as is not unusually the case, he was naturally capable of adapting himself to changed conditions.

Desmond, especially, was a very cool-headed chap in times of danger; the use of firearms was not new to him, nor was the woodsman life altogether a novelty, for he had been raised in a very wild and desolate mountain region.

Desmond had become a very expert woodsman; he and Brooks had been chased by Indians several times and had exchanged shots with one band.

Desmond, his two brothers, and the legate were already fugitives.

"Your Cousin Desmond, and mine, is a fine-looking man, is he not?