les of the beautiful Ohio; when the
dog--which, since he had had no trail to guide him, ran where he
chose--commenced barking spiritedly, some fifty paces to the left of the
party, who immediately set off at a brisk gait to learn the cause.

"I'll wager what you dare, lads, the pup's found the trail," said Boone.

The event proved him in the right; for on coming up, the footsteps of
both captors and captives, who had evidently passed there not over three
hours before, could be distinctly traced in the soft earth. A shout--not
inferior in power and duration to that set up by crazy-headed
politicians, on the election of some favorite--was sent away to the
hills, announcing the joy of our party; which the hills, as if partakers
also of the hilarious feelings, in turn duly echoed.

This new, important, and unexpected discovery, raised the spirits of all
our company to a high degree; and they again set forward at a faster
gait than ever, so as to overtake the pursued if possible before they
crossed the Ohio river. The trail was now broad and distinct; and the
footprints of the Indians, as also those of their captives, Algernon and
Ella, could be clearly defined wherever the ground chanced to be of a
clayey nature. In something like two hours our pursuers succeeded in
reaching the river; but unfortunately too late to intercept their
enemies and rescue their friends, who had already crossed sometime
before. By trailing them to the water's edge, they discovered the very
spot where the canoes of the savages had been secreted on the beach,
behind some drift-logs, nearly opposite the mouth of the Great Miami.

"Ef we'd only been here a little sooner," observed Boone, musingly,
"we'd ha' saved some o' the varmints the trouble of paddling over thar;
or ef we only had the means o' crossing now, we'd be upon 'em afore they
war aware on't. Howsomever, as it is, I suppose we'll have to make a
raft to cross on, and so give the red heathen a little more time."

"Is it not possible, Colonel," answered Millbanks, in a suggestive way,
"that the Indians, forming the two parties, may all be of the game
tribe, and have crossed here together, when they came over to make the
attack? and that the boats of the other division, unless they have
recrossed, may still be secreted not far hence?"

"By the Power that made me!" exclaimed Boone, energetically; "a good
thought, lad--a good thought, Master Harry--and we'll act on't at once,
by sarching a