onless, staring down into a little
hollow immediately in front of him; then he turned in the saddle, and
beckoned me.

"Cum over yere, Cap," he called, his voice sounding strange. "No, not
the gurls; you cum alone."

I rode forward and joined him, only to stare also, the heart within me
almost ceasing to beat, as I beheld the gruesome sight so suddenly
revealed. There, within the confines of that little hollow, almost at
the edge of the wood, lay the dead and mutilated bodies of eleven men,
in every distorted posture imaginable, some stripped naked, and showing
ghastly wounds; others fully clothed; but with the cloth hacked into
rags. It had once been a camp, the black coals of a fire still
visible, with one man lying across them, his face burnt and
unrecognizable. With the exception of one only--a mere boy, who lay at
few rods away, as though brought down in flight--the entire group were
together, almost touching each other in death. Beyond question they
had been soldiers--militia volunteers--for while there was only one
uniform among them, they all wore army belts, and a service insignia
appeared on their hats. Tim vented his feelings in a smothered oath.

"Militia, by God!" he muttered gruffly. "No guard set; the bloody
Injuns jumped 'em frum out them woods. Those poor devils never hed no
chanct. Ain't thet it, Cap?"

"No doubt of it; the whole story is there. None of them alive?"

"I reckon not--cudn't be hacked up like thet, an' most o' 'em skelped.
Them reds never left a damn gun behind neither. Why say, this affair
must a took place this yere very maunin', 'bout breakfast time."

He stood up in his stirrups, and swept his eyes anxiously about in
every direction.

"Good Lord! maybe we better be gittin' 'long out o' yere right smart.
Thar ain't nuthin' ter stay fer; we can't help them ded men none, an'
only the devil himself knows whar them Injuns hav' gone. Yer git the
gurls away afore they see whut's yere--down yonder, inter the valley."

I took one more glance at the sight, fascinated by its very horror,
then wheeled my terrified horse, and rode back. Heartless as his words
sounded, they were nevertheless true. We could be of no aid to the
dead, while upon us yet rested the duty of guarding the living. The
young negress lifted her head, and gazed at me dully, so thoroughly
tired as to be indifferent as to what had occurred; but Eloise read
instantly the message of my face.

"You have lo