good, for they will trample the ground, and we may lose
the track."

Malachi caught up his rifle, examined the priming, and set off in the
direction of the swamp, while the Strawberry returned to the house to
give his message to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. Leaving Mr. and Mrs.
Campbell, who were in a great state of alarm, and had sent the little
girl, Martha Jackson, to summon Alfred and Martin (for John and Henry
were out in the woods after the cattle), the Strawberry went down to the
Cedar Swamp to join Malachi, whom she found standing still, leaning on
his rifle, near the basket which had contained the cranberries.

"Now, Strawberry, we must find out how many of them there were, and
which way they have gone," said Malachi, in the Indian tongue.

"Here," said Strawberry, pointing to a mark on the short grass, which
never could have attracted the observation of one unused to an Indian
life.

"I see, child; I see that and two more, but we can not tell much as yet;
let us follow up the trail till we come to some spot where we may read
the print better. That's her foot," continued Malachi, after they had
proceeded two or three yards. "The sole of a shoe cuts the grass sharper
than a moccasin. We have no easy task just now, and if the others come,
they may prevent us from finding the track altogether."

"Here, again," said Strawberry, stooping close to the short, dry grass.

"Yes; you're right, child," replied Malachi. "Let us once follow it to
the bottom of this hill, and then we shall do better."

By the closest inspection and minutest search, Malachi and the
Strawberry continued to follow the almost imperceptible track till they
arrived at the bottom of the hill, about a hundred yards from where they
started. It had become more difficult, as the print of Mary's foot,
which was more easily perceptible than the others, had served them for a
few yards; after which it was no more to be distinguished, and it was
evident that she had been lifted up from the ground. This satisfied them
that she had been carried off. When they arrived at the bottom of the
hill, they could clearly distinguish the print marks of moccasins, and
by measuring very exactly the breadth and length of the impressions,
made out that they were of two different people. These they continued to
follow till they arrived at the forest, about a quarter of a mile from
the swamp, where they heard the hallooing of Alfred and Martin, to which
Malachi answered, an