window, saying that she did not feel
like going to bed just yet, and after a while Edith fell asleep leaving
her sitting gazing out into the night.

It seemed many hours later when she awoke to find her companion still
sitting in the same position. On rising and going to her, she found
the Indian girl to be trembling as though with a chill.

"What is it, Ah-mo?" she asked in alarm. "Are you ill, dear?"

As though in answer there came a roar of musketry from a point not far
distant, and yells, and shrill cries, and the sharp crack of rifles.

At the sounds Pontiac's daughter sprang up, crying: "It has begun! Oh,
my father! my father!"

"What does it mean? Tell me, Ah-mo!" gasped Edith, her voice sunk to a
whisper with terror.

"It is a battle," replied the Indian girl, sternly, "between thy people
and my people. It is time to dress and be prepared for what may
happen."

In a few minutes Edith, fully dressed, declared that she must go to her
father, that they might share together whatever danger threatened.

"Whither you go," replied the other, "there must I go also," and so
they left the house in company. They heard the old Canadian couple who
owned it moving about as they went out, but did not stop to speak to
them. As they gained the road, the firing, which had been momentarily
silenced, broke out afresh apparently nearer than before. In Major
Hester's quarters they saw a dim light, and with clasped hands they
started to run toward it.

At that moment a score of dark figures appeared, coming swiftly from
the direction of the light. The next instant the girls were
surrounded, seized in brawny arms, and borne away, their gasping cries
of terror being smothered ere they were fully uttered.

An hour later, in the gray of dawn, two young men came hurrying down
the road. "Is that the place, Atoka?" asked one, pointing to the house
occupied by Major Hester, in front of which a little group of
frightened Canadian peasants were gathered.

His companion nodded assent, whereupon the other exclaimed, "Thank God,
there has been no fighting here!" Then he sprang forward, scattering
the Canadians, who recoiled in terror at his sudden appearance, and
entered the house. In another minute a bitter cry rang from the open
windows, and the hearers crossed themselves at the sound.

Donald Hester had discovered his father lying in a pool of blood, from
which none had dared lift him, and pierced by a dozen wounds, bu