The young chief sprang from the earth—­gazed a moment at the maid—­spoke rapidly and loudly in the language of his tribe to his party, who were now at the place of encampment, seated by the fire they had kindled—­and then, seizing his tomahawk, was in the act of hurling it at Mary, when the yells of the war-party and the ringing discharges of firearms arrested his steel when brandished in the air.  The white men had arrived!  The young, chief seized Mary by her long flowing hair—­again prepared to level the fatal blow—­when she turned her face upwards, and he again hesitated.  Discharges in quick succession, and nearer than before, still rang in his ears.  Mary strove not to escape.  Nor did the Indian strike.  The whites were heard rushing through the bushes—­the chief seized the trembling girl in his arms—­a bullet whizzed by his head—­but, unmindful of danger, he vanished among the dark bushes with his burden.

CHAPTER XII.

Joe’s indisposition—­His cure—­Sneak’s reformation—­The pursuit—­The captive Indian—­Approach to the encampment of the savages—­Joe’s illness again—­The surprise—­The terrific encounter—­Rescue of Mary—­Capture of the young chief—­The return.

We return to the white men.  The grief of Roughgrove, and of all the party, when it was ascertained beyond a doubt that Mary had been carried off by the savages, was deep and poignant.  The aged ferryman sat silent and alone, and would not be comforted, while the rest made the necessary arrangements to pursue the foe.  The sled was so altered that blankets, buffalo robes, and a small quantity of food could be taken in it.  Bullets were moulded and the guns put in order.  Joe was ordered to give the horses water, and place a large quantity of provender within their reach.  The hounds were fed and then led back to their kennel, and Glenn announced, after Roughgrove declared his determination to go along, that Ringwood and Jowler alone would be left to guard the premises.

“My goodness!” said Joe, when he understood that he was expected to make one of the pursuing party, “I can’t go!  My head’s so sore, and aches so bad, I couldn’t go ten miles before I’d have to give up.  Let me stay, Mr. Glenn, and take care of the house.”

“Do you forget that Mary is in the hands of the Indians?  Would you hesitate even to die, while striving to rescue a poor, innocent, helpless maiden?  For shame!” replied Glenn.

“I’d spill my heart’s blood for her,” said Joe, “if it would do any good.  But you know how I was crippled last night, and I didn’t sleep a bit afterwards, hardly.”

“Dod”—­commenced Sneak.

“Joe,” said Boone, “from the vigorous manner in which you fought the wolves, I am induced to believe that your present scruples are not well founded.  We will need every man we can obtain.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind it at all,” said Joe, “if it wasn’t that you’re a going to start right off now.  If I only had a little sleep—­”