oux!" he
exclaimed, turning round his horse. "Quick! quick! our friends are
attacked." No other order was required; keeping close to him we all
galloped back the way we had come, getting our rifles ready for action
as we proceeded. A terrible anticipation of misfortune seized me as I
thought of Malcolm, and the fate which might have overtaken him. Still
he and his companions might be defending themselves, and we should be in
time to rescue them. My heart sunk when the firing ceased. I knew that
the Sioux would not have attacked the party unless greatly superior in
numbers, and I dreaded that all was over, and that having slaughtered
their victims they had retired victorious. Sigenok might have thought
the same, for he sent out scouts on either side, and advanced with
greater caution than before, though still at a rapid pace. We pulled up
at an open glade. Sad was the sight which met our eyes. On every side
were strewed the bodies of our companions, all denuded of their scalps.
I almost fell fainting from my horse. I dreaded to find the body of my
dear brother among them; still I eagerly hurried on to ascertain his
fate. He was not to be found among the slain. My hopes slightly
revived. He might have escaped and be concealed somewhere near, or he
might have been carried off as a prisoner. My blood ran cold when I
thought of this latter possibility, for I had heard of the horrible mode
in which the Red men tortured their prisoners, and I dreaded lest such
should be the lot of my poor brother. The rage and fury of the Indians
at finding that their friends had thus been cut off was terrific, and
their threats of vengeance terrible. I had hitherto, till this
expedition, seen the Red men only under more favourable aspects. I now
perceived what they could become when excited by passion. Still the
loss of my brother made me anxious that they should immediately
undertake an expedition which might result in his recovery. I saw the
Indians examining the ground round on every side, and they soon
pronounced an opinion that the party who had attacked their friends did
not equal them in numbers, and would not have succeeded had they not
lain in ambush and taken them by surprise. We must have passed close to
the Sioux, but in consequence of the superiority of our numbers they
were afraid to attack us. A council was immediately held; the principal
men spoke, and various plans were suggested. The result of them was,