out, which, indeed, there appeared every probability of their doing.

"Several of my unfortunate companions had sunk from loss of blood and
thirst, and my sufferings had become so great that I envied them their
fate, when, as I cast my eyes around to watch the movements of our foes,
I saw them gathering together in a body, while in the far distance
appeared a single horseman, who, galloping at full speed, was coming
towards the camp. He stopped short as he approached the Dacotahs, as if
to ascertain who they were; he then rode boldly forward towards them. I
saw that he was a white man, and knew by his gestures that he was
haranguing the savages. Several of their chiefs appeared to be replying
to him. He then waved his hand, and galloped up to the camp.

"`I know all about it,' he exclaimed in English, and his words sounded
pleasantly in my ears. `I made them promise to give me one of my
countrymen instead of a debt they owe me, and I wish that I could save
more of your lives. What!' he exclaimed, on seeing me rise to move
towards him, `are you the only one left alive?'

"I had no need to reply, but pointed to the bodies of my companions on
the ground; for by that time nearly all were dead, while those who still
remained alive were too weak to move, and it was evident that in a short
time they also would be numbered with the dead. It grieved me much to
leave them in their sad condition; but yet by remaining I could do them
no good. The stranger lifted me up on his horse with as much ease as if
I had been a child, and bore me off in the direction from whence he had
come.

"`We have no time to lose, for I don't trust the red-skins, friends
though they are of mine,' he said. `They may in a few minutes change
their minds.'

"We had gone but a short distance when I saw my preserver turn his head
to look behind him. There was an expression of anxiety in his
countenance.

"`What is the matter?' I asked.

"`The red-skins have set the prairie on fire,' he answered. `I don't
think they did it on purpose, for they will chance to suffer more than
we do; but we must push onwards, or the flames will anon be close at our
heels.'

"I raised my head as he spoke, and saw dense wreaths of smoke rising up
to the southward, below which I could distinguish a broad red line,
extending for a mile or more from east to west.

"The hunter, holding me in his firm grasp, put spurs to his horse, and,
slackening his rein, gallo