d not refrain from hastening to her; but I had just time
to perceive that her skull was cloven, and that she was, as I imagined,
dead, when I was dragged away, and forced to continue my journey. You
may imagine how my blood curdled at this scene, and how great were now
my apprehensions for myself. Why I had been carried away I knew not;
for I was as ignorant as you were of Percival being alive, and of the
Young Otter having been detained at the fort. My idea was, when the
chief struck down the Indian woman, that it was to get rid of her, and
that I was to replace her. This idea was almost madness, but still I
had hope, and I prayed as I walked along to that God who sees the most
secret act, and hears the most silent prayer of the heart, and I felt an
assurance while praying that I should be rescued. I knew that my
absence would be immediately discovered, and that there were those who
would risk their lives to rescue me, if I was still in existence; and I
therefore used all my efforts to walk on as fast as I could, and not
irritate the Indians. But that night I had no one to dress my feel;
which were bleeding and very much swelled, and I was very wretched when
I lay down alone. I could not drive from my thoughts the poor Indian
woman weltering in her blood, and murdered for no crime or fault--
nothing that I could discover. The next morning, as usual, my food was
some parched Indian corn, and of that I received only a handful for my
sustenance during the twenty-four hours; however, hunger I never felt, I
had too much pain. I was able to drag myself along till about noon,
when I felt that I could not proceed farther. I stopped and sat down;
the chief ordered me to get up again by signs; I pointed to my feet,
which were now swelled above the ankles, but he insisted, and raised his
tomahawk to frighten me into compliance. I was so worn out, that I
could have almost received the blow with thankfulness, but I remembered
you, my dear uncle and aunt, and others, and resolved for your sakes to
make one more effort. I did so; I ran and walked for an hour more in
perfect agony; at last nature could support the pain no longer, and I
fell insensible."

"My poor Mary!" exclaimed Emma.

"I thought of you often and often, my dear sister," replied Mary,
kissing her, "I believe it was a long while before I came to my senses,"
continued Mary, "for when I did, I found that the Indians were very busy
weaving branches into a sor