ey sang their songs of triumph yet farther assisted us to
approach. In another moment the death volley would be given, and most
of those fierce savages would be laid low. My only wish all the time
was to rush forward and to release my beloved brother. How breathlessly
I waited for the signal! The warriors were moving about, and Sigenok
was not yet satisfied, apparently, with the positions which they had
taken up. Little did they dream of the danger which threatened them.
Sigenok's object was to wait till the Sioux were separated as much as
possible, so that there should be no mistake as to which of them should
be aimed at by the warriors of our party. After sitting down for some
time, they all arose with eager and violent gestures; some went in the
direction of the temporary wigwams they had formed, and others advanced
towards Malcolm. By their looks and gesticulations I had little doubt
that it was with the intention of torturing him. Poor Malcolm lifted up
his countenance and gazed with calm resignation at his approaching
tormentors. My knees trembled for very anxiety. Just then I heard a
low "croak! croak!" Though warned, I believed that it was really a frog
close to me. It was followed by a click as if caused by the cocking of
the rifles. The Sioux one and all started and looked round. Their
quick ears had detected the sound. There was another low croak, and at
the same instant a rattling volley, and fourteen savages lay stretched
on the grass. The rest rushed in all directions seeking for shelter,
but in their alarm, scarcely perceiving whence the volley had proceeded,
some darted towards the bank of the stream where my friends still lay
concealed rapidly reloading their rifles.

Scarcely had the smoke cleared off than I saw through it a savage
darting towards Malcolm with uplifted knife, resolved apparently, before
he died, to plunge it in his bosom. I shrieked out, and sprang forward
to throw myself between them. The savage saw me, and was about to vent
his rage on my head, but at the moment his gleaming knife was uplifted
to strike, a bullet struck him, fired from Sigenok's rifle, and he fell
within a foot of me, in vain endeavouring to reach me with his weapon.
I sprang to my brother's side, he was unhurt, my knife was busily
employed in cutting through the thongs which bound him. More shots were
heard as my Ojibway friends caught sight of their Sioux foes
endeavouring to escape. A few of the