he Strawberry and me to follow the trail, and try if we cannot
obtain more information; and, when we have got all we can, we must form
a party, and go in pursuit. Let us only get fairly on the trail, and we
shall not lose it, especially if the Strawberry is with us, for she has
a better eye than any Injun I ever knew, be it man or woman."

"Well, that is all right, Malachi; but what shall I do now while you are
following up the trail?"

"Well, sir, you must prepare the party, and get them all ready for a
start; for we must be off in three hours, it possible."

"Captain Sinclair had better come with us. He will be quite frantic if
he does not," said Alfred.

"Well, then, perhaps he had, sir," replied Malachi, coldly; "but I'd
rather he were away. He won't be so cool and calm as he ought to be."

"Never fear; but I must now go to my father and mother, and tell the
whole of the circumstances which have occurred. I must tell them that
Percival is alive."

"Why so, sir?" replied Malachi. "It will only fret them more. It's
quite sufficient that they should have to lament Miss Percival being
carried off, without their knowing what fresh cause for anxiety there is
about the boy. I would only say that Miss Mary has been carried off by
somebody, and leave out all about our having captured the Young Otter,
and why we took him."

"Well, perhaps it will be better," said Alfred. "Then I'll leave Martin
here, and ride off to the fort to Captain Sinclair. Shall I ask for any
soldiers?"

"Yes, sir; if there are any good backwoodsmen among them, we may find a
couple of them of service. We ought to have a larger force than the
Injun; and the latter, if you recollect, is stated at six with the
chief. Now, there are you, Martin, and I, that's three; Captain
Sinclair and two soldiers would be six; young Graves and Meredith make
eight. That's sufficient, sir; more than sufficient does harm. Mr
Henry must stay, and so must Mr John, because he will not be home
before we are away. I'm sorry for that, as I should have liked him to
be with me."

"It can't be helped," replied Alfred. "Well, then, Martin and I will go
back at once; in two hours I will return with Captain Sinclair, if I
possibly can."

"As quick as you please, sir, and Martin will get everything ready for
the journey, for we must not fire our rifles, if we can help it."

Alfred hastened away, and was soon followed by Martin, to whom Malachi
had given some