d they soon joined him.

"What is it, Malachi?"

"She has been carried off, sir, I've no doubt," replied Malachi, "by
the Snake. The rascal is determined to have the vantage of us. We have
one prisoner, and he has made two."

Malachi then explained why he was certain that she had been carried
away, and Martin agreed with him immediately. Alfred then said--"Well,
but now, before we act, let us consult what is best to be done."

"Well, sir," replied Malachi, "the best to do now, at this moment, is
for the Strawberry and me to follow the trail, and try if we can not
obtain more information, and when we have got all we can, we must form a
party, and go in pursuit. Let us only get fairly on the trail, and we
will not lose it, especially if the Strawberry is with us, for she has a
better eye than any Indian I ever knew, be it man or woman."

"Well, that is all right, Malachi; but what shall I do now while you are
following up the trail?"

"Well, sir, you must prepare the party, and get them all ready for a
start; for we must be off in three hours, if possible."

"Captain Sinclair had better come with us. He will be quite frantic if
he does not," said Alfred.

"Well, then, perhaps he had, sir," replied Malachi, coldly; "but I'd
rather he were away. He won't be so cool and calm as he ought to be."

"Never fear; but I must now go to my father and mother, and tell the
whole of the circumstances which have occurred. I must tell them that
Percival is alive."

"Why so, sir?" replied Malachi. "It will only fret them more. It's quite
sufficient that they should have to lament Miss Percival being carried
off, without their knowing what fresh cause for anxiety there is about
the boy. I would only say that Miss Mary has been carried off by
somebody, and leave out all about our having captured the Young Otter,
and why we took him."

"Well, perhaps it will be better," said Alfred; "then I'll leave Martin
here, and ride off to the fort to Captain Sinclair. Shall I ask for any
soldiers?"

"Yes, sir; if there are any good backwoodsmen among them, we may find a
couple of them of service. We ought to have a larger force than the
Indian; and the latter, if you recollect, is stated at six with the
chief. Now, there are you, Martin, and I, that's three; Captain Sinclair
and two soldiers would be six; young Graves and Meredith make eight.
That's sufficient, sir; more than sufficient does harm. Mr. Henry must
stay, and so must Mr. Joh