Teddy took the child that had cried itself asleep, and the missionary started on a full run up the river.  When he reached the settlement, it required but a moment to make his errand known.  A dozen warriors volunteered at once, for these dozen would have laid down their lives for their faithful instructor.  Many of the squaws also gave utterance to dismal howls upon learning what had befallen their pale-faced sister.  Had the missionary chosen to tell the part taken by At-to-uck in the affair, it may be reasonably doubted whether her life would have been spared.  But he was not the man to do such a thing.  Knowing how anxious Teddy would be to participate in the pursuit, he secured the wife of one of the Christian Indians to return with him, and take charge of the boy during their absence.

At the time of the missionary’s visit, the chief and his principal warriors were absent on an expedition to the north.  Although holding little interest himself in the mission of the minister among his people, he would undoubtedly have led a party to the search for the audacious savage who had abducted the respected white woman; and, had he been overtaken, a swift and merciless retribution would have fallen upon the trangressor’s head.

Harvey Richter deemed it best to take but a few Indians with him.  Accordingly he selected five that he knew to be skillful, and with them hurried at once in the direction of his cabin.  He saw with a sinking heart, as he returned, that the sun was already low in the horizon, and the woods were becoming dark and gloomy.  Teddy was at his post chafing like a confined lion.

“This woman, Teddy, will take care of the boy, so that you may join us in the search.”

“Bliss you for that!  It would be the hardest work of me life to stay here when I thought there’s a chance of gitting a whack at that thaiving villian.  Oh, if I could only git howld of him, I wouldn’t l’ave a piece of him big enough to spit on.”

“I think there’s little probability of either of us obtaining a glimpse of him.  We must rely upon these Indians to take the trail and follow it to the end.”

“They’re like the hounds in the owld country, barring they go on two legs an’ don’t stick their noses in the ground, nor howl whin they git on trail.  They’re mighty handy to have around ye at such a time as this, if they be savages wid only a spark of Christianity in ’em not bigger than a tobaccy pipe.”

“It will be impossible, I think, for the savage to conceal traces of his flight, and, if there be any chance of coming up with him, these men will surely do so.”

“But suppose Miss Cora should be tomahawked and—­”

“Don’t mention it,” said the missionary, with a shudder.

While these words were interchanged, the Indians had employed the time more profitably in solving the meaning of the footsteps upon the ground.  A slight whoop announced the trail’s discovery, and when the missionary turned, he saw the whole five gliding off in a line through the woods.  They went in “Indian file,” and resembled a huge serpent making its way with all swiftness toward its prey.