"Are you sure? Did you ever hear anything of Marian?"
"I am sure I am the only person the Indians took from that boat."
"But, I follered them that night and part of the next day, and I didn't see nothin' of you, and you might seen nothin' of her."
"Our party just after starting, separated and did not reunite until just before we reached the Shawnee towns. You followed the wrong one. You might easily have done this, as both parties were large. No; do not hope that Marian or any one besides us had escaped, I could not have helped knowing it."
"That settles the matter, then," said the commander, "we will tell Abbot, in the morning. Poor man! I pity him and his wife."
"Is he here?" asked Drake, "I do pity him then; it was a hard blow for him."
"But, I have heard," continued the commander, who saw that Mansfield was painfully affected, "that there was a female captive among them."
"Yes; there was one; but she was captured from a settler on the Virginia frontier. Poor creature! she died long ago from her sufferings. But, friends, you will excuse me I trust. I have had a hard run for freedom; and, if you have no objections, I will now turn in for the night."
"Certainly; let me help you to another snifter, to make you sleep soundly."
Drake did not refuse the offered drink. At it was now late, the sentinel was called in, another sent to take his place, and those within stretched themselves out upon the floor, where, wrapped in their blankets, they were soon oblivious to external things.