as quickly as we could to the camp. My
first inquiry was for Lily. She had been crying bitterly for her
mother, asking when she would come to her, but had at length fallen
asleep, and was now resting inside the tent in Kathleen's bed.

While seated round the camp-fire an idea came into my head, I procured a
piece of board, and with my knife commenced carving an inscription.
This I intended fixing the next morning on to the logs above the lady's
grave. It was a question whether I should have an opportunity of
erecting it. We might possibly be attacked by an overwhelming body of
Indians and have to retreat, or perchance share the fate of the
unfortunate people we had buried. As may be supposed, we kept an
anxious watch, although there was less chance of our being attacked in
the camp than while moving on, as the redskins, in spite of their
vaunted bravery, always watch for an opportunity of taking their enemies
by surprise, and finding us prepared for them, would probably keep at a
distance. Having stood my watch during the early part of the night, I
turned in and lay down with my buffalo robe by the side of Dan. I was
awakened by my father's voice arousing the camp. In an instant every
one was on foot, fires were made up, and a hurried breakfast taken. We
then caught and yoked the oxen, and in the grey of morning recommenced
our march. Uncle Denis and the Dominie, acting as scouts, rode a little
way in advance on either side, so as to avoid the risk of a surprise.
My mother kept little Lily in her arms inside the waggons, so that she
could not see the wrecked train. As we approached it Uncle Denis and I
galloped forward to the grave of the poor lady, I carrying the board on
which I had worked the previous evening. Throwing ourselves from our
horses, we nailed it to the large log placed over the head. On the
board I had carved, with the date of her death, "Lily's mother sleeps
here."

CHAPTER SEVEN.

ACROSS THE PLAINS--THE MARCH OF CIVILISATION--A HALT--THE TRAIL
DISCOVERED--ON THE WAR-PATH--AN OBSTACLE--ARRIVAL AT THE RIVER--
EXAMINING THE CAMPING-GROUND--AN INACCESSIBLE POINT--ERECTING
FORTIFICATIONS--THE WAY TREES ARE FELLED IN KENTUCKY--STRENGTHENING OUR
POSITION--MR. TIDEY PUTS US ON THE ALERT--RED-SKIN DARING--ROUND THE
CAMP-FIRE--EVIDENT ANXIETY OF MY FATHER AND THE DOMINIE--OUR STRONG
POINT--SETTING THE WATCH--DRIVING IN THE CATTLE--THE LULL BEFORE THE
STORM.

The next day's journey was an an