or our pioneers, when they heard their own tribe a
second time driven back, they determined to carry them off as first
intended, hoping to secrete themselves before the victors returned.

With varying sensations of hope and dismay, Mrs. Duncan heard the
combatants advance, retreat, advance again, and at last retreat,
followed by their rescuers, and at the moment when she supposed they
were freed from danger, the swarthy robbers burst into her camp, and
were in the act of seizing her when the sharp crack of a rifle was
heard, and the foremost savage leaped in the air with a hoarse yell,
and fell dead at her feet. Martin had saved his mother, for stepping
back on the instant, she raised her rifle and another fell beneath her
aim; at the same moment Jane's rifle disabled another; but the savages
closed so fast around them that they were disarmed and overpowered,
their hands bound and they were hurried away over the stream towards
the South. Not ten minutes had elapsed before they were pursued by
their friends; but in that short time their captors had effected their
escape, and morning dawned on the agonized pioneers still scouring the
forest in search of the lost ones. They were ably seconded by the
Arapahoes, a few of them having been left in charge of Anne and Benny
who, having been concealed in one of the wagons, had been saved. Those
stolen were Mrs. Duncan, Jane, Edward and Martin.

At daylight the dogs were let loose, and mounting the horses and mules
they renewed the pursuit with hearts determined to perish or bring back
the fugitives. After two hours' hard riding they over-hauled two of the
savages who had Mrs. Duncan in charge, and she was borne back
triumphantly to camp. She could give no account of her children, not
having seen them since their capture, but thought they had gone in a
more westerly direction. Every art was used to persuade the Crows taken
to give some intelligence of them, but they were obstinate, and were
finally placed, bound, into the hands of the Arapahoes, who had charge
of the camp, for safe keeping.

About noon they came up with two more Indians having Martin in charge;
but he knew nothing further; the two that carried him off having
separated from the rest, the more easily to escape detection; and the
Crows, like those that had charge of his mother, refused to give any
intelligence, and were placed with the others in custody. The pursuers
were again bewildered and were obliged to find