"Bad!" answered Billings, emphatically. "The Injens have been down upon us agin in a shocking manner."
"Heaven forbid thar be many victims!" ejaculated Boone, unconsciously tightening the grasp on his rifle.
"Too many—too many!" rejoined Billings, shaking his head sadly. "Thar's my neighbor Millbanks' family—"
"Well? well?" cried Boone, impatiently, as the other seemed to hesitate.
"Have all been murdered, and his house burnt to ashes."
"All?" echoed Boone.
"All but young Harry, who's fortunately away to a wedding at Wilson's."
"Why, the one you speak of war just now here," said Boone, with a start; "and I sent him back to raise a party to trail the red varmints, who've been operating as you see yonder: Good heavens! what awful news for poor Harry, who seems so likely a lad."
"Yes, likely you may well say," returned the other; "and so war the whole family—God ha' mercy on 'em! But what's been done here?"
"Why, I suppose Ella Barnwell—Younker's niece, you know—and a likely young stranger who war along with her, called Reynolds, have been captured."