eaming by the light of the fire
in the other. The last Indian in the circle, wakened by the screams of
the child, leaped from his leafy bed and fled into the forest with the
speed of a panther. Mayall, seeing his retreating form, sprang to the
Indian's guns and fired three in quick succession after him, to speed
his flight, and then, gathering up the remaining guns as quickly as
possible, threw them upon the coals with the muzzles in the direction
the Indian had gone, in order to keep up the firing until he could get
out of hearing with the affrighted child before the Indian returned. He
then took up Nelly, who was half dead with fright, and hurried off in
the opposite direction as fast as possible. The sharp report of one gun
after another broke the stillness of night until Mayall had got more
than two miles from the bloody conflict with his prize, and had soothed
the child's fears by softly whispering in her ear that he was carrying
her home to her mamma.

Mayall now diverged from the trail and reached the place of his
destination by a circuitous route, at times traveling in the channel of
small brooks, in order to deceive the Indians, should they undertake to
follow on the trail, to avenge the blood of his tribesmen. Mayall
hurried on with his prize. The stars had faded from his view, and the
morning sun had lighted up the concave of the skies, before he could
reach the weeping mother with her little Nelly. Her mother had passed a
sleepless night, and her wakeful eye had been turned in every direction
to see if she could catch a glimpse or a sound from her little Nelly.
None but a mother could realize her pain and anguish at the loss of her
lovely child. As she stood looking she fancied she heard the faint sound
of her prattling voice. A moment later she saw Mayall come in full view
with little Nelly in his arms. The fond mother, now as frantic with joy
as she had been the previous day with grief, rushed to meet Mayall. She
met him some distance from her cabin, and little Nelly leaped with joy
into her mother's arms as she fell at the feet of Mayall, to thank him
for restoring to her loved embrace her only child. Mayall raised her to
her feet and said, "I have done no more than my duty, and I have no time
to waste. Swear to me before the God of Heaven that all that pertains to
the loss and return of this child shall be kept a secret whilst I live."

After receiving her sacred promise not to reveal the secret, he
dis