y us, nor did Maysotta,
as I thought she would have done; but I found that she had left the camp
with her dog and rifle before we started. It was her custom, I
discovered, to act in a very independent manner on all occasions, her
father never interfering with her.

We pushed forward at as rapid a rate as we could make our horses move;
but the ground was at first too rough to allow us to proceed as fast as
we wished. When we got to the plain we gave our steeds the rein.

Judging from the report of Winnemak's people who last came in, we had
not much risk of encountering any of our foes; indeed, our whole
thoughts were entirely occupied by Clarice and Rachel. Had they waited
quietly the return of their escort; or had any hostile Indians
discovered them, and carried them off as captives? The idea of such an
occurrence as that was too horrible to be contemplated. Perhaps they
might have caught and mounted their horses, and set off to try and find
their way to the camp. In that case we might possibly meet them, and as
we rode along we kept a strict look-out on every side.

"Can they possibly have passed us?" I inquired of my companions.

"I do not see how that can be, unless they should have gone very much
out of their way; and I remember having pointed out to your sister the
position of the Indian camp, so that she would know how to direct her
course," answered Manley. "The peculiar form of the mountains above it
would be sufficient to guide her."

After all, we felt that there was but little use in talking about the
matter, or in surmising what might have happened--though, of course, we
did talk on without ceasing.

We at last approached the spot where Manley had left Clarice and her
companion. Should we not find them there, we must endeavour to follow
their trail; and when I thought of the possibility of having to do this,
I regretted not having endeavoured to induce an Indian to accompany us.

"There is the place," said Manley, at length; "but I see no smoke, and
had they remained they would certainly have kept up a fire."

We rode forward eagerly; but our fears were realized. The ashes of the
fire at the camp were there, but the fire itself had long been
extinguished.

Clarice and Rachel must have left the spot some time before!

We searched about in every direction, but could find no traces of their
having been there lately, and our eyes were not sufficiently sharp to
distinguish the signs which would have en