"No more proof is needed!" declared Captain Lewis. "They must have been some of the French half-breeds. But go on, Mayhew, have you other distressing news for us? What of your two companions; I hope they did not meet their fate there in the darkness?" At that the man's face lighted up a trifle. He had told the worst, and the rest would come easier now. "Oh, no, indeed, sir, none of us were badly injured, strange as it might appear," he hurriedly explained. "Bruised we certainly were, and greatly puzzled at both the attack and its sudden ending, that left us still alive; but we were at least thankful it had been no worse!" "And then what did you do?" continued the leader of the expedition. "We stood guard with our guns ready the remainder of the night, sir, but we were not again disturbed. It was toward morning that I made a sudden discovery, which is what has brought me back to the camp to report, while my two companions kept on with your documents intended for the President." Captain Lewis drew a deep sigh of relief. That was the first intimation he had received that his precious communications had been saved. "Then explain why you have returned, if the papers were saved!" he demanded, as though puzzled. "You forget, sir, that I was entrusted with another paper, which you ordered me to personally hand to the grandfather of the two boys who joined us." When Mayhew said this, Dick and Roger knew that a new trouble had descended upon their heads. He must have lost the paper in some manner and yet neither of the lads was able to understand how it could have happened. "Do you mean to say the paper they set such store on is missing?" Captain Lewis demanded. "I had it securely hidden in a pocket inside my tunic, Captain," replied the humbled messenger; "but, when I came to look for it, it could not be found. When morning came we spent a full hour scouring the vicinity, but it was useless. And there had not been a breath of wind to carry a paper away. It must have been taken from me while I was struggling with that unknown man." "This is indeed a strange story you bring back with you, Mayhew," continued the leader of the expedition, looking keenly at the other, who met his inquiring glance as bravely as he could. "Stop and consider, did you hear anything said that might give the slightest clue concerning the identity of the thieves?" "But one word, sir, and that was a name," came the ready answer. "The man with whom I was grappling, as we rolled over and over on the ground, suddenly let out a loud cry. I plainly heard him say the one word 'Alexis!' And then he suddenly threw me aside, for he was very powerful." "And did the fighting cease immediately?" asked Captain Lewis, quickly.