It was so long ago that there were few white people in this country.
The farms were scattered, and around them were great forests.
The houses were made of logs, with strong, heavy doors.
Far away in the woods lived many Indians.
Sometimes the Indians would come down where the white people lived, and would capture any white person whom they could find.
They even dared to attack, and often burned, the scattered log cabins.
The white prisoners would be taken to the Indian villages and would be held there as captives.
One cold winter morning the two brothers, John and William, were going skating on the river.
In order to reach the river, they had to pass through some woods.
John, the older brother, started first.