s afloat and starting in
pursuit, easily overtook three of the fugitive craft, which surrendered
to them without resistance. The remaining two, by hoisting sail and
taking advantage of an off-shore breeze, made good their escape and
were headed in the direction of Sandusky on the opposite side of the
lake. In one of these was the commander of the ill-fated expedition,
who had been the last man to leave the beach.

Wild with joy over a victory so easily gained and so rich in results,
the Indians, after securing their prisoners, lighted great fires, and,
gathered about these, abandoned themselves to feasting and drinking.
Among the captured supplies was a quantity of liquor, upon which they
pounced with avidity. Heads of kegs were broken in, and the fiery
stuff was recklessly quaffed from cups, vessels of birch bark, or
anything that would hold it; some even scooping it up in their hands,
until all became filled with the madness of demons. They danced,
yelled, waved aloft their bloody scalps, and fought like wild beasts,
while the trembling captives, crouching in scattered groups, seemed to
hear their own death knell in every whoop.

One such scene of hideous revelry was enacted in the little glade
beside which Madam Rothsay and Edith Hester had been left helplessly
bound by their captors. From the moment of the girl's brave effort to
warn the camp, these two had listened with straining ears to the babel
of sounds by which the whole course of the tragedy was made plain to
them. They shuddered at the volleys, at the screams of the wounded,
and at the triumphant yells of the victors. They almost forgot their
own wretched position in their horror at the fate of their recent
companions. But when all was over, and the hideous revelry of the
savages was begun within their sight, a realization of their own misery
returned with overwhelming force, and they again trembled at the
possibilities of their fate. A number of squaws had accompanied this
war party, and they could see these busily engaged securing and
concealing what weapons they could find at the very beginning of the
debauch.

"Even those creatures realize the dreadful things that are likely to
happen, and are taking what precautions they may to guard against
them," moaned Madam Rothsay.

"Yes," replied Edith, "and now, if ever, is our time to escape. Oh, if
we were not so helplessly bound and could slip away into the woods! I
would rather die in an effor