But the savages had left their unmistakable mark for our finding.  It was in the early twilight of the second day, the western sky already purple with the last fading colors, the prairie before us showing in patches of green and brown.  To our left was a thick wood, even then grown gloomy and dark in shadows, and slightly in advance of us Kennedy rode alone, hopeful of thus dislodging some wild animal.  I could see the gleam of the pistol in his hand, held in instant readiness, cocked and primed.  Suddenly he drew rein, and then, turning his horse’s head sharply, advanced cautiously toward the miniature forest, leaning forward to gaze intently at something unseen from where we were.  I halted the others in a thrill of expectancy, anticipating the report of his weapon, and hopeful of a successful shot.  He halted his horse, which pawed restlessly, and sat motionless, staring down into a little hollow immediately in front of him; then he turned in the saddle, and beckoned me.

“Cum over yere, Cap,” he called, his voice sounding strange.  “No, not the gurls; you cum alone.”

I rode forward and joined him, only to stare also, the heart within me almost ceasing to beat, as I beheld the gruesome sight so suddenly revealed.  There, within the confines of that little hollow, almost at the edge of the wood, lay the dead and mutilated bodies of eleven men, in every distorted posture imaginable, some stripped naked, and showing ghastly wounds; others fully clothed; but with the cloth hacked into rags.  It had once been a camp, the black coals of a fire still visible, with one man lying across them, his face burnt and unrecognizable.  With the exception of one only—­a mere boy, who lay at few rods away, as though brought down in flight—­the entire group were together, almost touching each other in death.  Beyond question they had been soldiers—­militia volunteers—­for while there was only one uniform among them, they all wore army belts, and a service insignia appeared on their hats.  Tim vented his feelings in a smothered oath.

“Militia, by God!” he muttered gruffly.  “No guard set; the bloody Injuns jumped ’em frum out them woods.  Those poor devils never hed no chanct.  Ain’t thet it, Cap?”

“No doubt of it; the whole story is there.  None of them alive?”

“I reckon not—­cudn’t be hacked up like thet, an’ most o’ ’em skelped.  Them reds never left a damn gun behind neither.  Why say, this affair must a took place this yere very maunin’, ’bout breakfast time.”

He stood up in his stirrups, and swept his eyes anxiously about in every direction.

“Good Lord! maybe we better be gittin’ ‘long out o’ yere right smart.  Thar ain’t nuthin’ ter stay fer; we can’t help them ded men none, an’ only the devil himself knows whar them Injuns hav’ gone.  Yer git the gurls away afore they see whut’s yere—­down yonder, inter the valley.”

I took one more glance at the sight, fascinated by its very horror, then wheeled my terrified horse, and rode back.  Heartless as his words sounded, they were nevertheless true.  We could be of no aid to the dead, while upon us yet rested the duty of guarding the living.  The young negress lifted her head, and gazed at me dully, so thoroughly tired as to be indifferent as to what had occurred; but Eloise read instantly the message of my face.