he chastened hearts of the family.
The certainty that the lost ones still lived, though they yet knew not
where nor under what circumstances, roused their enervated energies,
nerved their limbs and called back the healthful flush to the cheek,
and the light of joy to their eyes.

"To be sure they are well," said Cole to their inquiries, "and we have
come all the way from the Sierra Nevada mountains to bring you the
news, and take you to them."

"Yes, yes; we will go. To-morrow we will be on the road to see them,"
said Mrs. Duncan.

"Not so fast as that," returned Cole; "I lost all my traps by the
red-skins, and must collect some more. Besides, you need more
preparation than could be made in that time, or you will fall into
savage hands the second time."

"Let it be a week, then; we can be ready in that time," said Mr.
Duncan. Their wanderings were recounted by Whirlwind, and when he had
concluded, Mrs. Duncan's joy was nearly turned to sorrow, for fear they
had not escaped the dangers of the Sierra. Accordingly, their
arrangements were made to set out after a week's preparation. Mr.
Duncan's equipments being nearly the same as those with which he had
started two years before, when his journey was so unfortunately
interrupted. Their destination now was somewhat different than what it
was then; their only object being to recover their lost children. Cole
had given such glowing descriptions of the country west of the Sierra
that they thought it probable they should settle there; still, this was
a minor consideration with them.

They reached the Arapahoe village in safety, where they found thirty of
their warriors ready to accompany them as a guard. Their love and
devotion to their chief prompted them to this disinterested act. They
were all well mounted on half-tamed prairie horses,--their swarthy
forms fantastically painted, and their heads and tunics adorned with
shells, beads, and feathers, which gave them a wild, grotesque, but not
unbecoming appearance. This was their gala costume, prepared after the
most approved Indian style, and France never looked upon her sovereign
with more pride when decked in his costliest regal vestments, than this
tribe of savages did upon these thirty warriors, that the whole village
had been laid under contribution to decorate in befitting pomp for this
occasion. It is unnecessary to follow them minutely as they progressed
in their journey. Suffice it that their guard protected them