he was taken from me, and I was left alone in
the world. Sigenok now made a sign to me to retreat; keeping close to
him as before, I unwillingly left the spot. We crawled on till we
rejoined our companions. It may seem surprising that the Sioux should
have been so completely off their guard; but this arose from their
despising their foes, the fact being that the Ojibways are generally
very unwarlike, and they, therefore, believed that they would not
venture to follow them. My companions' plans were soon formed. It was
arranged that the whole party should creep forward as we had done, and
that each man should single out one of the enemy according to his
position, and that at a signal from Sigenok, the low croak of a frog,
all should fire at the same moment. With the sound of the first shot
the men with the horses were to come galloping on, as if a fresh party
were approaching the scene of conflict. As, undoubtedly, all the Sioux
would not be killed, some might, otherwise, attempt to rush on their
concealed foes, but, with the fear of falling into the hands of their
enemies, they would now take to flight. My heart beat quick as we now
moved on towards the camp of our treacherous foes. The night was very
dark, and so noiseless were the movements of the Indians that, till I
actually touched Sigenok's heel, I fancied at one time that I must be
alone. The shouting and shrieking of the Sioux as they sang their songs
of triumph yet farther assisted us to approach. In another moment the
death volley would be given, and most of those fierce savages would be
laid low. My only wish all the time was to rush forward and to release
my beloved brother. How breathlessly I waited for the signal! The
warriors were moving about, and Sigenok was not yet satisfied,
apparently, with the positions which they had taken up. Little did they
dream of the danger which threatened them. Sigenok's object was to wait
till the Sioux were separated as much as possible, so that there should
be no mistake as to which of them should be aimed at by the warriors of
our party. After sitting down for some time, they all arose with eager
and violent gestures; some went in the direction of the temporary
wigwams they had formed, and others advanced towards Malcolm. By their
looks and gesticulations I had little doubt that it was with the
intention of torturing him. Poor Malcolm lifted up his countenance and
gazed with calm resignation at his appro