ready to act upon the slightest attempt of escape on
their part, the whole party now crept softly towards 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 reconnoitred, 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 everything 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
in, they were overpowered. Only two of them, however, were taken alive,
and these were seriously wounded. They were tied and laid on the
ground.

"He was a bad man, sir," said Malachi, who was standing over the body of
the Indian chief; "but he will do no more mischief."

"Are you much hurt, M