“Yes; what else can we do? If what the Prophet says be true, they have carried her up the Wabash, and I don't know that we could find her. Moreover, the Ingens are constantly skirmishing in that quarter, and they might jirk it into us.” “I think there's a storm brewing, and have my doubts if this Prophet don't know more of this thing than he has told us. So I think we had better return, and tell all we know, and the governor can then do about it as he chooses.” “We will of course tell,” said Rolfe, “and unless these Indians are given up, I have no doubt it will lead to war, but I do not believe that the Prophet knows any thing about them or the captive, other than what he has told us. If he had, he would not have made us smoke and eat with him.” “Come along, Rolfe,” said Earth, “when you live in these woods as long as I have, you wont believe every thing an Ingen tells you. You'll find out, as I said before, that they are mighty like 'possums;” and bending their way they began to tramp back in the direction they had come. The sun was fast sinking below the horizon when leaving the path they were travelling, they turned off into the tall grass of the prairie, and using the same precautions as though they were followed by a warlike party, passed the night. With the light of morn they again resumed their journey. The day had now several hours advanced, when in passing through the forest and amusing themselves with idle dialogue, their attention was arrested by an unusual number of carrion birds. “Ah!” said Earth, “I wish every red devil was in the same fix. I suppose you know, Rolfe, why those birds are collected?” “Yes,” answered he, “I well recollect, it reminds me again of that poor girl. I wish I could forget her.” “Well,” said Earth, “I will go and bring the pack he was carrying; who knows but from it we may learn who she is.” “Well, do,” said Rolfe, eagerly, “I had forgotten it, but now I am all anxiety to see it, come, make haste, Earth, I will walk on, you get it, and overtake me.”