swifter than the
wind, and at every moment expected to be dashed to pieces. But as I
neared the earth I began to descend slower; when, lo! I softly alighted
at the door of our camp, and there I found Duncan and Lewis. Indeed it
seemed we all were there as if nothing had happened."

"A singular dream, uncle," said Jane, "but you know it could not come
true. Besides," she added sadly, "there is little hope that father and
Lewis escaped."

"I am impressed with the idea they did," said Sidney. "Had they been
murdered, the savage murderers would not fail to have scalped them and
exhibited the scalps in triumph."

"The young brave is right; they have escaped," said Whirlwind. "The
Tabagauches would have scalped the white chief had they taken him."

"You always said you did not believe in dreams," said Jane, upon whose
imagination it seemed to have considerable influence.

"Neither do I, generally. But now, even a dream of freedom and friends
is gratifying, and I cannot help feeling elated by it."

"The Great Spirit visited the white man in his slumber. Believe what he
showed to thy slumbering spirit, lest he be angry and destroy thee,"
said Whirlwind earnestly.

"Really, Whirlwind, it is as absurd as singular," remarked Edward, "and
is taxing credulity too much to ask an implicit confidence in it."

"The brave is young, and cannot interpret the signs of the presence of
the Great Spirit. His children know him better, and recognize his
teaching."

"Oh! well, chief, I hope he is in earnest now, at least, and will
succeed in getting us out of the clutches of these promising children
of his," said Edward.

"Then the young brave must not anger him," returned the chief,
solemnly.

"I should like to know how far we are from camp, and how much farther
they intend taking us," said the trapper.

"Their village is half a day's march to the setting sun," replied
Whirlwind, "and we evidently are from six to seven days' journey from
our camp."

About noon they entered their village, displaying their captives in
triumph to the rest of the tribe, who surrounded them in great numbers,
grinning and twisting their naturally ugly visages into frightful
grimaces, at the same time filling the air with yells of delight and
satisfaction.

That night there was another revolting feast. The victims being three
Indians of a peculiar form and features different from any they had
ever seen.

"They are from over the desert," said Whirl