ave
been able to see to a considerable distance. I several times took a
glance towards the east, and at length I saw the dawn breaking through
an opening in the trees. Our only fear was that the fugitives might
have turned aside, and that we had passed them. This, however, was not
likely to be the case. The light increased, and just we got near the
edge of the forest, we caught sight of the four men still dragging on
poor Dio.

I don't know what we might have been tempted to do. I saw Mr Tidey
more than once raise his rifle, and I confess I was merely waiting for a
fair shot at one of the fellows, in spite of the risk of wounding Dio,
when my eyes fell on a party of horsemen galloping along from the
northward, having apparently skirted the edge of the forest.

The Kentuckians saw them also, and knowing that if the horsemen were in
pursuit of them, further flight would be useless, halted and appeared to
be consulting what to do. In another minute I recognised my father and
Uncle Denis leading the party. Our friends dashed forward at the
fellows. My father was just in time to knock down one of them who had
presented his pistol at the black's head, and I fully expected that the
four men would be killed on the spot. I saw Dio, however, holding up
his hands to protect them, while he explained apparently what had
happened. We now showed ourselves, and, hurrying forward, assured my
father of the safety of Kathleen and Lily.

"You may go, then!" he exclaimed, turning to the Kentuckians, who now
appeared thoroughly cowed, "and tell Silas Bracher, should he again
venture to send any of his men to capture this honest negro, they will
be more severely dealt with than you have been."

The fellows, without a word of thanks, moved sulkily away towards the
south, at a much slower pace than they had hitherto been going. Three
of our men now got off their horses, to allow Mr Tidey, Dio, and me to
mount, and we rode on through the forest as fast as we could go, until
we reached Rose and her two charges; the little girls, having recovered
from their fright, had fallen asleep in their bower, while the black
nurse sat watching over them.

I had almost forgotten our prisoners, when Mr Tidey exclaimed, "We
mustn't let the Indian and that fellow in the canoe starve to death,
which they certainly will unless we release them."

"They can do no further harm if set at liberty, though they deserve a
pretty severe punishment," said