less words."

Nelly leaped upon the saddle, and the spirited animal took the nearest
road for the fort, and in a few moments was lost from sight by the thick
grove through which she had to pass. Mayall's eyes followed her lovely
form until it vanished in the sylvan shade, and then hastened to get her
father and mother on the way to a place of safety.

Mayall, fearing that he might have been discovered by the Indians, made
a hasty retreat to the nearest woods in the direction of the fort, until
he disappeared among the shrubbery. Then, returning by a circuitous
route, hid in a thicket from which he could have a view of the road
leading to the farmer's house. He had scarcely reached his hiding-place
before he heard the booming of the alarm-gun at the fort, which thrilled
through his bosom with a joyful sound and gave a fresh impulse to all
his energies, as it echoed from mountain-top to mountain and glen, on
all the forest hills that bordered the then wild Valley of the Mohawk,
and seemed to say, "Nolly is safe."

Mayall had but a few minutes to reflect on what had been accomplished,
before he espied from his hiding-place five Indians coming up the road
leading to the house. Mayall fired both barrels of his carbine, bringing
down the two foremost Indians, and without loss of time had his gun in
readiness for two more. Then, looking out from his hiding-place, he saw
the three remaining Indians retreating in great haste, leaving young
Mayall master of the farm and buildings. The inhabitants of the valley
rushed for the fort at the sound of the alarm-gun; but several were
overtaken by the Indians, and scalped and murdered in the most inhuman
manner. But Mayall kept guard over the farm and buildings. The Indians
made quick work in plundering and burning dwellings, and murdering all
the helpless women and children that fell in their way, and then made a
quick retreat towards Canada. After the Indians had left, and the
terror-stricken inhabitants had returned to their farms and once-loved
homes, only to find many of them a heap of ashes, the old farmer
returned with his wife and daughter, and found Mayall walking about
keeping guard over his farm and dwelling. He had buried the two Indians
and was enjoying a season of rest. Mayall greeted them all with the
warmest friendship, and felt happy when he saw them once more safe in
their own house, which he had saved from the Indians' torch. But the
ungrateful farmer and his wife tr