around the fire with the juicy meat
stuck on bits of wood, and eating as if they had fasted for a week,
Agnes told her story.

"You see," she began, "I ventured out very bravely, but I made the
mistake which others made, and did not look out for the Indians."

"Your brother is guilty," Fred smiled; "the same fool head rests on us
both. We are flesh of one flesh."

"Well," the girl went on; "the first thing I felt, were two arms around
me, and then a band which pinned my hands together. A rude hand was
thrust before my mouth, so that I could not cry out. The Indians then
carried me up the bank, and brought me to the camp, where they quartered
me with the women, quite comfortably, but nevertheless a prisoner."

"Just my story," Fred interposed, "only they did not trust me with the
women."

"You don't belong there either," Agnes said; "they might have made you
marry one of their number."

They all laughed while Fred shook his head.

"Never in my life," he affirmed.

"But where did the women come from?" Matthew queried. "I thought it
was a scouting party, consisting only of men."

"That is true," Agnes explained; "but the scouting party was
supplemented by other Indians from across the river. That is the reason
why I urged you to cross the stream. The Indians are all over the other
side, headed for the south where they are going to unite and attack the
white men conjointly. I heard it all, for the women spoke about it,
not knowing that I understood the Pequot language. It is always good
to know many languages."

"That is true," Matthew agreed; "and if we get out of this, I am going
to study all kinds of languages, until I am a regular Babel. That's
the way."

"Go on with your story, Agnes," Fred urged her; "you just finished
chapter one, and I am anxious to hear the rest. The reader is always
looking for the climax."

"There is no climax to my story," Agnes smiled; "it is all the
wonderful grace of God which freed me. You know, the women were very
impolite. After I had been lying in the tent for some time, trying in
vain to sleep, for the bands were cutting into my flesh and causing me
much discomfiture, the women all left the tent and went out where a
huge fire was burning and the men were eating. In fact, the men had
eaten, for they were as impolite to their women, as these were to me.
Well, the women went out to eat, and I thought that I ought to have
some meat, too."

"So you stole away an