"She has been carried off, sir, I've no doubt," replied Malachi, "by the Snake. The rascal is determined to have the vantage of us. We have one prisoner, and he has made two." Malachi then explained why he was certain that she had been carried away, and Martin agreed with him immediately. Alfred then said--"Well, but now, before we act, let us consult what is best to be done." "Well, sir," replied Malachi, "the best to do now, at this moment, is for the Strawberry and me to follow the trail, and try if we cannot obtain more information; and, when we have got all we can, we must form a party, and go in pursuit. Let us only get fairly on the trail, and we shall not lose it, especially if the Strawberry is with us, for she has a better eye than any Injun I ever knew, be it man or woman." "Well, that is all right, Malachi; but what shall I do now while you are following up the trail?" "Well, sir, you must prepare the party, and get them all ready for a start; for we must be off in three hours, it possible." "Captain Sinclair had better come with us. He will be quite frantic if he does not," said Alfred. "Well, then, perhaps he had, sir," replied Malachi, coldly; "but I'd rather he were away. He won't be so cool and calm as he ought to be." "Never fear; but I must now go to my father and mother, and tell the whole of the circumstances which have occurred. I must tell them that Percival is alive." "Why so, sir?" replied Malachi. "It will only fret them more. It's quite sufficient that they should have to lament Miss Percival being carried off, without their knowing what fresh cause for anxiety there is about the boy. I would only say that Miss Mary has been carried off by somebody, and leave out all about our having captured the Young Otter, and why we took him." "Well, perhaps it will be better," said Alfred. "Then I'll leave Martin here, and ride off to the fort to Captain Sinclair. Shall I ask for any soldiers?" "Yes, sir; if there are any good backwoodsmen among them, we may find a couple of them of service. We ought to have a larger force than the Injun; and the latter, if you recollect, is stated at six with the chief. Now, there are you, Martin, and I, that's three; Captain Sinclair and two soldiers would be six; young Graves and Meredith make eight. That's sufficient, sir; more than sufficient does harm. Mr Henry must stay, and so must Mr John, because he will not be home before we are away. I'm sorry for that, as I should have liked him to be with me." "It can't be helped," replied Alfred. "Well, then, Martin and I will go back at once; in two hours I will return with Captain Sinclair, if I possibly can." "As quick as you please, sir, and Martin will get everything ready for the journey, for we must not fire our rifles, if we can help it."