wagged their tails and showed signs of conciliation.

Slowly Fred crawled out of the log, still feeding the hungry animals of
the meat that remained.

Soon he had succeeded in winning their friendship, and when Matthew
finally came out from the retreat, the dogs were completely won over.

Together they walked on, the dogs following them, as if they had been
friends for many years.

"If we could only get rid of these beasts," Matthew sighed; "they will
finally betray us."

"We'll give them the slip soon enough, just as we did to their masters,"
Fred smiled; "wait."

The opportunity was soon granted them, for when suddenly a rabbit jumped
out of the thicket, Fred sent them leaping after it, for he was well
acquainted with the Indian way of hunting with dogs.

"Now we run straight forward, and the dogs will forget us and finally
return to their masters."

They walked rapidly, and to their joy arrived after some time at the
place where the log house had stood. While they had made no progress,
they at least knew where they were, and could manage a way to reach
Hartford.

"We must see whether our horses are still here," Fred said, as he
hurried down the bank.

To his astonishment the horses were just coming out of the woods,
feeding hungrily on the thick grass.

"Indians!" he muttered. But then he cried out with joy.

"Agnes!" he cried; "Agnes, you here?"

The girl, who had released the horses and was driving them out of their
hiding place, smiled as she saw the boys.

"Brother," she said cheerfully, "Oh, what a surprise!" Then she fell
around his neck and kissed him ardently.

CHAPTER XII

AGNES' STORY AND HARTFORD

"We must not stay," the girl said, as soon as she had greeted her
brothers. "The Indians will surely come back, and we must reach the
other side of the river. I am glad you are here. Oh, how good the Lord
is! I prayed for your deliverance ever since I was captured, but did
not believe that the good Lord would hear my prayers and grant my
request so soon."

"What do you want to do?" asked Fred.

"Tie the horses together, and swim the river. There are no Indians on
the other side, and we can make Hartford easily."

"How do you know that?" Matthew asked.

"Don't ask foolish questions," the girl pleaded; "help me get these
horses roped together. Then I will leap into the river with the end of
the rope tied to my saddle, and the horses must follow. You bring up
the rear."