With a great effort the chief rallied his expiring energies sufficiently to tell in a few broken sentences, of Wolf's perfidious and cruel deed, then gasped and died. "He is gone," Kenneth said in a voice tremulous and husky with emotion, "and this foul deed of a blood-thirsty, conscienceless wretch, will in all probability be visited upon our infant settlements in a tempest of fire and blood." "Wolf! the scoundrel is rightly named," muttered Miller between his clenched teeth. "Andrews," to his comrade, "we should be scouring the woods in search of him at this moment. If we could catch and deliver him up to justice, it might go far toward averting the threatened storm." "Yes, and there's no time to be lost; but the first thing is to hurry home and secure the safety of our families." "The alarm should be given at once in Chillicothe," said Kenneth, hastily mounting as he spoke; "that shall be my task, and doubtless a party will be sent out at once in search of this cowardly villain, Wolf." In another moment all three had left the scene of blood and death, and were galloping furiously through the woods; the farmers toward their homes, Kenneth in the direction of the town. The sun had set some time before, it was already growing dark, and when he reached Chillicothe many of the people had retired for the night. Coming in at the end of the town farthest from Major Lamar's house, and stopping to call up and consult with several of the other influential citizens, whose dwellings lay between, he was late in reaching it. Nell was roused from her first nap by a loud knocking on the outer door, and a familiar voice calling, "Major!" She sprang to the window and opened it. "What is it, doctor?" she asked, her voice trembling a little with excitement and alarm in spite of herself. "I am very sorry to disturb you," he answered, something in his low, earnest tones sending a strange thrill through her whole being, "but there is not an instant to be lost. Dear Miss Nell, rouse the household and dress yourself with all haste, not forgetting a shawl and bonnet, for the night air is chill in--" The door opened at that moment and the major's voice was heard. "What's wrong? Ah, is it you, doctor?" "Yes, major, Wawillaway lies dead out yonder on the trail to Old Town, slain treacherously in cold blood, by that scoundrel Wolf, and of course we may expect an attack from the Indians as soon as they can get here after the news reaches them. It has been decided that the women and children shall be collected in Ferguson's house; that being the largest in town. Can I be of any assistance in getting yours there?" "No, no, thank you. I'll have them there directly, and you will be wanting to warn others." The doctor rode rapidly away, while the major shut the door and called to his wife and children. "Up! dress yourself as fast as you can! Nell!" "Yes," she answered. "I'll be there in a moment."