the better bracing against the swift current, and
so essayed the ford. It was no more than thigh deep, and though the
water lashed and foamed over the shoal like a torrent in flood, there
was a clean bottom and good footing. Once safe across, we turned our
faces down-stream, and in a little time came to the deserted glade with
the embers of the kidnappers' fire glowing dully in the midst.

Here a sign of some later visitants than Falconnet's horsemen set us
warily on our guard. The tepee-lodge of dressed skins, which had been
left undisturbed by the sham rescuers, had vanished.

"Umph! The redskins have been back to make sure o' what they left
behind," said Yeates, in a whisper. "I jing! that's jest the one thing I
was a-hoping they'd forget to do. I reckon ez how that spiles our last
living chance o' finding anything that mought help slack off on the
belly-pinch."

So he said, but for this once his wisdom was at fault and tricky fortune
favored us. When we had found the covert in the bushes where the two
horses had been concealed we lighted upon a precious prize. 'Twas a bag
of parched corn in the grain; some share of the provision of the captive
party overlooked by those who had returned to gather up the leavings.

With this treasure-trove we made all haste to rejoin our companions. And
now behold what a miracle of reanimation may be wrought by a few
handfuls of bread grain! In a trice the Catawba had found a water-worn
stone to serve for a mortar, and another for a pestle. These and the bag
of corn were carried back to a sheltered ravine which we had crossed on
our late advance; and here the Indian fell to work to grind the corn
into coarse meal, whilst Yeates and I kindled a fire to heat the
baking-stones.

In these preparations for the breaking of our long fast even Richard
bestirred himself to help; and when the cakes were baked and eaten--with
what zestful sharp-sauce of appetite none but the famished may ever
know--we were all in better heart, and better able to face the new and
far more desperate plight in which our lack of common foresight had
entangled us.

For now, since we knew the full measure of the peril menacing our dear
lady, there was need for swift determination and a blow as swift and
sure; a _coup de main_ which should atone in one shrewd push for the
sleeveless failure of the night. So we would grip hands around, even to
the stolid Indian, and swear a solemn oath to cut the women out or els