the other part must ride ahead and
attack them in front, and secure the children."

"If we break up our force in this way, all will be lost," said Mr.
Duncan. "It is my opinion we had better all keep together, and try to
get ahead of the main body by a circuitous route, and thus be more
certain of overcoming the savages."

"Certainly, father, the party must not be divided, the half of fifteen
is almost too few to attack seventy or a hundred," remarked Lewis.

"Let us keep together, by all means," said Sidney.

"I do not think we had better divide our force," said Howe, after
hearing all their opinions, and finding they all coincided with his
own, excepting the chief. "We will be too few for them."

"The white chief forgets we cannot expect to overcome them by a fair
fight, but must depend on strategy for success."

"If we have as good success as we had last night, I think we may,"
returned Howe.

"They will build no more fires to give us another such a chance," said
the chief.

"We had better follow Mr. Duncan's suggestion," said Howe, "and try to
head them off by a circuitous route. Come boys! Lead on chief; we will
follow you."

Light began to break in the east, so that they could see to make their
way, and rapidly they pursued it, their animals refreshed by the
night's rest. On they went, and about sunrise, saw the detachment of
Indians not more than a mile ahead. Whirlwind threw the halter (the
only accoutrement, his half-tamed prairie horse boasted,) loosely on
the proud steed's neck, and with his body bent almost on a level to his
back, rode like a Centaur over the ground. The rest gave their horses
the spur, but they were out-stripped by the Arapahoes, who one by one
darted past them, in the wake of their chief. Before Mr. Duncan and his
party had accomplished two-thirds of the distance, the war-whoops of
the combatants burst on the air, and when he joined them many a brave
had gone to the "spirit land."

And now, fiercer than ever the battle raged, the Tabagauches retreating
as they fought, and being on foot were slain or dispersed at will,
until they saw the other detachment of their tribe advancing, when they
turned and fought with the fury of demons. This furious charge killed
one of the Arapahoes, badly wounded Mr. Duncan in the shoulder with a
tomahawk, and Lewis slightly in the thigh with an arrow.

During this time they saw nothing of Edward and Jane, but distinctly
heard their voices as th