artin?" inquired Alfred.

"No, sir, not much; the ball has passed right through and touched no
bone; so I am in luck. I'll go to the Strawberry, and get her to bind
it up."

"He is quite dead, sir," said Graves, who was kneeling by the side of
the soldier who had been shot by the first rifle.

"Poor fellow!" exclaimed Alfred. "Well, I'm not sorry that they
commenced the attack upon us, for I do not know whether I could have
used my rifle unless they had done so."

"They never expected quarter, sir," said Malachi.

"I suppose not. Now, what are we to do with the women? They can do no
harm."

"Not much, sir; but at all events, we must put it out of their power.
We must take possession of all the weapons we can find in the lodges.
We have their two rifles; but we must collect all the bows and arrows,
tomahawks, and knives, and either destroy or keep possession of them.
John, will you look to that? Take Graves with you."

"Yes," replied John, who, with Graves, immediately commenced his search
of the lodges.

The two women, who had been in the lodge with Mary Percival, had
remained where they were, as John's rifle had kept them from leaving the
lodge; but the other two had escaped into the woods during the affray.
This was of little consequence; indeed, the others were told that they
might go away, if they would; and, as soon as they heard this from
Malachi, they followed the example of their companions. John and Graves
brought out all the arms they could find, and Malachi and Alfred then
went to the bushes to which Mary Percival and Sinclair had previously
retired. Alfred embraced his cousin, who was still too greatly agitated
to say much, being almost overpowered by the sudden transition in all
her thoughts and feelings:--and, in the variety of her emotions, perhaps
the most bewildering was that occasioned by the re-appearance of
Percival,--like a restoration from the dead. Alfred was in consultation
with Malachi, when he perceived the flames bursting out of the lodges.
Martin, as soon as his wound was dressed, had returned and set fire to
them.

"It's all right, sir," said Malachi; "it will leave the proof of our
victory, and be a caution to other Injuns."

"But what will become of the women?"

"They will join some other band, sir, and tell the story. It is better
that they should."

"And our prisoners, what shall we do with them?"

"Release them; by-and-bye, sir, we shall have nothing to fear fr