girths of my saddle; and when I rode forward, expecting
immediately to overtake them, I found that I had followed a different
direction from that which they had taken.

It is no easy matter, in a thick forest, to regain the right path, or to
get up with those who have once been lost sight of. I found it to be so
in the present instance. I was sure that I could not be going very far
wrong, and expected as soon as I reached the edge of the forest to see
my friends, although they might have got some little way ahead on the
open ground.

As I was riding on, I fancied that I heard the bark of a dog. I
listened, and again heard the same sound. I was now certain that the
animal was not far off. To whom could it belong? The dog was not
likely to be wandering by itself in the forest. I rode in the direction
from whence the sound proceeded, and in a short time reached a somewhat
more open part of the forest. Great was my surprise and joy to see my
dear little sister Clarice, leaning on the arm of Maysotta, who carried
her rifle in her hand, while Keokuk ran beside her.

Leaping from my horse, I sprang towards Clarice, who threw her arms
round my neck, exclaiming, "O Ralph, I am so thankful to see you! I
have been in a dreadful state of alarm and anxiety, thinking that
Manley--I mean Lieutenant Broadstreet--and his men had been killed.
Maysotta has somewhat relieved my mind. But where is he? Has he been
unable to come and look for me?"

The assurance I gave that Manley was well, and not far off, soon
restored Clarice to her usual composure.

Having no longer any fears about Manley's safety, she was able to answer
the questions I put to her. After telling me how the lieutenant and his
men had ridden off to meet the Indians, she continued:--

"We were sitting before the fire awaiting their return, when what was
our dismay to see two huge wolves approaching the camp, followed by a
number of cubs! Our first impulse was to fly; and while the wolves
stopped to eat up our provisions, we were able to escape to a distance.
We took refuge in the hollow of a tree, which afforded us sufficient
shelter, and the aperture being some way up, we felt sure the wolves
could not make their way in. But Maysotta has been telling me that
something dreadful has happened, though I cannot make out what she
means."

"I will tell you all about that by-and-by," I answered; "but I am eager
to know how Maysotta managed to find you."

"A