“You have looked upon something terrible,” she cried.  “What was it? a dead body?”

“Eleven dead bodies,” I answered gravely, my lips trembling.  “A squad of militiamen were surprised by Indians over there, and slaughtered to a man, apparently with no chance to even defend themselves.  I have never seen a more terrible sight.”

“Indians, you say!  Here?” her eyes widening in horror.  “When do you suppose this happened? how long ago?”

“Within twelve hours certainly; probably soon after dawn.  The attack must have been made while the soldiers were at breakfast.”

“Then—­then those Indians cannot be far away?”

“We have no means of knowing; but it will be assuredly safer for us to get under cover.  Come, both of you.”

“They were all killed—­all of them?  You are sure?”

“Yes; it would be impossible for any among them to be alive—­the bodies were scalped, and mutilated.”

I caught the rein of her horse, and Elsie, who was now wide awake, and trembling with fear, pressed forward, close to my other side, moaning and casting her frightened glances backward.  Kennedy was already started in advance of us on foot, leading his animal, and seeking to discover the quickest passage to shelter.  The valley below was a deep and pleasant one, with sides forest clad, and so thickly timbered we were almost immediately concealed the moment we began the descent.  On a narrow terrace the deputy halted us.

“I reckon maybe this yere is as gud as eny place fer ter stop,” he said rather doubtfully.  “Thar ain’t noboddy kin see us, nohow, an’ thar’s a gud spring over yonder.  It’ll be mighty dark in an hour, an’ then we kin go on; only my hoss is about did up.  Whut ye say, Cap?”

“We are probably as safe here as anywhere in the neighborhood.  Let me help you down, Eloise.  Is that all you have to report, Tim?”

He lifted his hat, and scratched gently his thin hair.

“Only thet them Injuns went south.  I done run onto their trail after yer left—­it wus plain as the nose on yer face.  Thar must’r bin a slew o’ ’em, an’ sum a hoss-back; they wus a strikin’ straight across yonder, an’ I reckon they fetched a prisoner ‘long, sumbody wearin’ boots enyhow, fer I saw the tracks in the mud.”

“Poor fellow.  We’ll not remain here, Kennedy, only to rest for an hour, or two.  We’ll not risk a fire.”

“Sure not—­ain’t got nuthin’ ter cook, enyhow.”  He hesitated, as though something was on his mind, glancing toward the girls, and lowering his voice.  “I ain’t so very dern tired, an’ reckon I’ll scout ’round a bit.  Them red devils might’r overlooked a rifle er two back thar in the timber, an’ I’d sure like ter git my fingers on one.”

I nodded indifferently, too completely exhausted myself to care what he did, and then dull-eyed watched him disappear through the trees.  No one spoke, even Eloise failing to question me, as I approached where she and Elsie had flung themselves on the short grass, although her heavy eyes followed my movement, and she made an effort to smile.