irls had
little time for play. There was always something for them to do. When a
boy was sixteen years old, he was expected to do the work of a man. They
all learned to shoot, and some of them, when they were only twelve,
could bring down a squirrel from the highest tree every time, or shoot a
deer upon the run.

Two boys--Isaac Bradley, who was fifteen years old, and Joseph
Whittaker, who was eleven--were at work one day in Mr. Bradley's field,
when suddenly a party of Indians sprang out from the woods and seized
them. Isaac was small, but he was bright, cool-headed, and
brave-hearted. Joseph, though four years younger, was as large as Isaac,
but he was not so stout-hearted nor self-reliant as his companion.

The Indians were from Canada. They did not stop to kill any of the
settlers, but hastened away, travelling through the dark woods northward
to the beautiful Lake Winnipiseogee, where they remained through the
winter. The lake swarmed with trout and pickerel, which they could catch
through the ice, and the woods were full of bears and deer.

Isaac made himself at home in the wigwam, and picked up the language of
the Indians in a very short time. The squaws made him do their drudgery;
but the warriors liked him, and the Indian dogs wagged their tails when
he looked at them out of his kindly eyes.

Winter passed and April came.

"We go to Canada now," said one of the Indians.

Isaac had no intention of going to Canada. Day after day he thought over
the matter. He knew that the English settlements were far away to the
south, but there was no path to them. He had no compass. How could he
ever reach them? He would be guided by the sun by day, and the stars by
night. He would make the attempt. He might perish, but death was better
than captivity.

"I am going to try it to-morrow night, but I am afraid you won't wake,"
he said to Joseph, who always slept soundly, and snored in his sleep.

"Oh yes, I will," Joseph replied.

The Indians had killed a moose, and Isaac had managed to hide a large
piece of meat in the bushes near the camp. He filled his pockets with
their corn-bread. Night came. All were asleep except Isaac, who was so
excited by the thought of escaping that his eyes would not close. Every
sense was quickened. He arose softly and touched Joseph, who was sound
asleep. He did not stir, and Isaac shook him harder.

"What do you want?" Joseph asked.

In an instant Isaac was stretched out, snoring; but