"Here comes Uncle Jack from the garrison house. He will tell us where mother is," cried Peggy hopefully. They all hastened to meet him, only to learn that their mother had not been seen since she left home.
"Did the Indians carry her off?" cried little Samuel, choking back a sob.
Betsey relieved that awful thought by exclaiming, "Here comes Captain Shackford with his soldiers. They will find her."
The little group gathered about the sturdy Captain, who had been summoned from the Bank, two miles away. With his militia, he had reached the Plains too late to meet the Indians. Seeing the destruction they had caused, he inquired in which direction they had fled and started in pursuit.
"Bring back my mother!" pleaded little Samuel, running after the captain, who nodded doubtfully.
It was soon learned that four people were missing from this little group of settlers; several were injured and many had been killed. Nine barns and five dwellings had been burned.
"We have a house left to us," sighed Peggy, "but what is that without mother?"
There was no time, however, for even the children to mourn their loss; so many things were needed from their home for those without homes, that they were kept busy for several hours carrying pillows, blankets, and other things of comfort to the injured ones.
Suddenly little Samuel cried, "Here comes Captain Shackford back again," for the Captain was then emerging from the woods across the clearing with his militia carrying kettles, lanterns, blankets, and other things the Indians had taken as plunder.
"Oh!" cried Betsey with joy, straining her gaze for a moment. "Mother is with them!"