oon saw he could not live, and shot him to
end his suffering.

This they felt was an unlucky incident, and with saddened hearts turned
their faces campward, which on reaching they found in consternation at
the prolonged absence of Edward and Anne. They had gone out a few
moments after the hunters, Edward to fish in the brook by which they
had encamped, and Anne to gather curious plants and flowers, of which
she was passionately fond. Mr. Duncan had been in search of them and
came up as the hunters were dismounting.

"Have you found them?" was asked by every one in a moment, as he came
up.

"No! but I found this, and this, about two miles down the stream," said
he, holding up a fading wreath of wild flowers, and the skeleton of a
fish that Edward had evidently cut away to bait his hook with.

"It is now nearly noon, and by the looks of that fish and those
flowers, they have laid in the sun three hours. Give us a lunch, Mary,
and now for the dogs, Lewis. No time is to be lost," said Howe.

"I fear the worst," said the father; "I saw signs of Indians."

"What were they?" quickly asked the Trapper.

"A raft on the opposite bank of the stream."

"They will bring them back, if they have taken them," said Howe, to
which the surmise was not new, for it had occurred to him the moment he
found the children were gone, but did not like to say so, lest he
should raise an unnecessary alarm, But there was no outcry, no
lamentation or dismay, though all was bustle and hurry. They knew it
was time to act, not to spend their time in useless sorrow.

"Bring up two mules," said Howe, filling his pockets with bread and
cheese, which he told Lewis to do also, "for," said he, "we may not
come in to supper, certainly not unless we find them."

"I will go with you," said the father.

"And I," said Sidney, decidedly.

"No: a sufficient force is necessary here; you will take care of the
camp, and if you hear the report of three guns in succession, bring the
horses, which must be fed immediately," said the Trapper. "But, if we
do not have to go a long distance, the mules will do."

"How will you know whether they are lost or have been carried off by
savages," asked the mother, and though no coward, she shuddered and
turned white as she asked the question.

"Easily enough known, when once on the ground. I know the red-skins as
thoroughly as I do my rifle. Here Buff, here Lion," cried the Trapper,
calling two noble bloodhounds to hi