red a volley, which sent three or four o'
the reptiles behind on their backs. We got into the bush without a
scratch, an' used our legs well, I can tell 'ee. They fired a volley
after us, which missed us all except poor Tommy. A bullet entered his
brain, an' killed him dead. For some time his father would not drop
him, though I told him he was quite dead; but his weight kept him from
runnin' fast, an' we heard the redskins gainin' on us, so at last
Macdonell put the boy down tenderly under a bush. Me and Wapaw stopped
to fire an' keep the reptiles back, but they fired on us, and Wapaw
fell. I tried to lift him, but he struggled out o' my arms. Poor
fellow! he was a brave man; and I've no doubt did it a-purpose, knowin'
that I couldn't run fast enough with him. Just then I saw Hawk come
jumpin' and yellin' at us, followed by two or three dozen redskins, all
flourishin' their tomahawks. Macdonell and me turned to die fightin'
alongside o' our red comrade, but Wapaw suddenly sprang up, uttered a
shout of defiance, an' dashed into the bush. The Injuns were after him
in a moment, and before we could get near them a yell of triumph told us
that it was too late, so we turned and bolted in different directions.

"I soon left them behind me, but I hung about the place for a day or two
to see if Macdonell should turn up, or any of his men. I even went back
to the Fort after the reptiles had left it. They had burned it down,
an' I saw parts o' the limbs o' the poor wife and child lyin' among the
half-burned goods that they weren't able to carry away with them."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

VENGEANCE.

The terrible tale which was related by Slugs had the effect of changing
Robin Gore's plans. He resolved to pursue the murderers, and inflict
summary punishment on them before setting off on the contemplated search
for his lost children, and he was all the more induced to do this that
there was some hope he might be able to obtain a clue to their
whereabouts from some of the prisoners whom he hoped to seize.

It might be thought by some a rash step for him to take--the pursuit of
a band of about fifty savages with a party of six men. But backwood
hunters were bold fellows in those days, and Indians were by no means
noted for reckless courage. Six stout, resolute, and well-armed men
were, in Robin's opinion, quite a match for fifty redskins!

He could not muster more than six, because it was absolutely necessary
to leave