s the rest of the soldiers returned, dragging after them a
number more of wretched prisoners. They appeared to be the principal
people in the village; and whether guilty or not of the crimes charged
against them, they were dragged away from their homes, to undergo more
suffering on their road to their place of trial than they would deserve
even if proved guilty.

The unhappy men were lashed together by the wrists two and two, all
being likewise joined by a single stout rope; while blows and curses
urged them on if they did not move fast enough to please their tyrants.
Had the inhabitants of the village united bravely, they might have
overpowered the soldiers and rescued their friends; but terror-stricken,
they were afraid to show themselves.

Neither my father nor I were in any way molested, but a soldier was
placed on each side of us and our Indian attendant, with orders to shoot
us if we attempted to escape, a command they seemed very ready to obey.
The word was then given to move on, and we commenced our descent of the
mountain, a body of eight soldiers bringing up the rear. We addressed
the officers several times to learn why we were thus treated, but the
only answer the one in command deigned to make was--

"You are found in communication with rebel Indians, and there are
suspicions against you."

I thought of our having aided the escape of the Indian chief Manco, and
feared that by some means the circumstance might have become known. If
such were the case, I trembled for the safety of my dear mother and
brothers and sisters. I thought of all the insults and annoyance to
which they must have been subjected while our house was being searched,
and my father's papers and books being examined, which I knew they would
be, by the officers of justice. I did not, however, communicate my
thoughts to my father, as I felt that if it suggested the same idea to
him, it would cause him much pain and anxiety.

I endeavoured therefore, as we rode on, to amuse him by conversation;
but I am afraid I succeeded very ill. Ithulpo was very gloomy and
silent, evidently brooding over the wrongs his countrymen had so long
endured, and were still receiving, from their oppressors. At the foot
of the mountain we found another party of soldiers concealed in a wood,
and guarding the horses of our escort. The whole then mounted; and as
we proceeded at a more rapid rate, the captive Indians were goaded on
more cruelly to keep up with