ver, we waste time in such idle converse; and if
it be my privilege to aid you at all, I must learn more, so as to plan
safely."

"You have the freedom of the camp yonder?"

"I hardly know," she responded sadly. "God has placed in my poor
hands, Monsieur, a portion of His work amid those benighted,
sin-stained creatures there. Times come, as now, when the wild wolf
breaks loose, and my life hardly is safe among them. I fled the camp
to-night,--not from fear, Christ knows, but because I am a woman, and
too weak physically to bear the sight of suffering that I am helpless
to relieve. It is indeed Christ's mercy that so few of your company
were spared to be thus tortured; but there was naught left for me but
prayer."

She stooped forward, her hands pressed over her eyes as though she
would shut out the horror.

"Yet know you who among the whites have thus far preserved their
lives?" I urged, in an agony of suspense. "Were any of the women
brought alive to the camp?"

"It was my fortune to see but one; nor was I permitted to approach
her,--a sweet-faced girl, yet she could not be the one you seek, for
she wore a wedding-ring. She was saved through the friendship of Black
Partridge, and I heard that she is a daughter of the Silver-man."

"Ay! Mrs. Helm! Thank God! But was she the only one?"

"Truly, I know not; for I was forced away from sight of much that went
on. Little Sauk has a white maiden hidden in his lodge, who was
brought from the battle. I have not seen the girl, but know this
through others who were angry at his good-fortune."

"Could we reach there, think you, unobserved?"

She rose, and gazed anxiously across the stream, her face showing clear
and fair in the faint light of those distant fires, while I caught the
glimmer of a pearl rosary about her white throat and marked a silver
crucifix resting against her breast.

"It will be life itself you venture in such an attempt," she said
softly, "even its loss through torture; yet 't is a deed that might be
done, for the Indians are fairly crazed with blood and liquor, and will
pay small heed to aught save their heathen orgies."

"Then let us venture it."

She turned slightly and looked at me intently, her dark eyes filled
with serious thought.

"Yes, we will go," she responded at last, slowly. "If through God's
grace we may thus preserve a life, it will be well worthy the
sacrifice, and must be His desire."

For another moment we wait