om the lodge in which she
was confined; and John took his office willingly, as he considered it
one of importance, although it had been given him more with a view that
he might not be exposed to danger. Leaving the prisoners to the charge
of the Strawberry, who, with her knife drawn, stood over them, ready to
act upon the slightest attempt of escape on their part, the whole party
now crept softly toward the lodges, by the same path as had been taken
by Malachi and the Indian woman. As soon as they had all arrived, they
waited for a few minutes, while Malachi reconnoitered, and when they
perceived that he did so, they all rose up and hastened to their
allotted stations round the lodge into which the Angry Snake and his
followers had entered. The Indians appeared to be asleep, for every
thing remained quiet.

"Let us first lead Miss Percival away to a place of safety," whispered
Captain Sinclair.

"Do you do it, then," said Alfred; "there are plenty of us without you."

Captain Sinclair hastened to the lodge in which Miss Percival had been
placed, and opened the door. Mary Percival, as soon as she beheld
Captain Sinclair, uttered a loud scream of delight, and, rising from
the skins on which she had been laid, fell upon his neck. Captain
Sinclair caught her in his arms, and was bearing her out of the lodge,
when an Indian woman caught him by the coat; but John, who had entered,
putting the muzzle of his rifle into their faces, they let go and
retreated, and Captain Sinclair bore away Mary in his arms into the
brushwood, where the Strawberry was standing over the Indian prisoners.
The scream of Mary Percival had roused the Indians, who, after their
exhaustion and privations, were in a sound sleep; but still no movement
was to be heard in the lodge, and a debate, between Malachi and Alfred,
whether they should enter the lodge or not, was put an end to by a rifle
being fired from the lodge, and the fall of one of the soldiers, who was
next to Alfred. Another shot followed, and Martin received a bullet in
his shoulder, and then out bounded the Angry Snake, followed by his
band, the chief whirling his tomahawk, and springing upon Malachi, while
the others attacked Alfred and Martin, who were nearest to the door of
the lodge. The rifle of Malachi met the breast of the Angry Snake as he
advanced, and the contents were discharged through his body. The other
Indians fought desperately, but the whole of the attacking party closing