To his astonishment the horses were just coming out of the woods, feeding hungrily on the thick grass.
"Indians!" he muttered. But then he cried out with joy.
"Agnes!" he cried; "Agnes, you here?"
The girl, who had released the horses and was driving them out of their hiding place, smiled as she saw the boys.
"Brother," she said cheerfully, "Oh, what a surprise!" Then she fell around his neck and kissed him ardently.
CHAPTER XII
AGNES' STORY AND HARTFORD
"We must not stay," the girl said, as soon as she had greeted her brothers. "The Indians will surely come back, and we must reach the other side of the river. I am glad you are here. Oh, how good the Lord is! I prayed for your deliverance ever since I was captured, but did not believe that the good Lord would hear my prayers and grant my request so soon."
"What do you want to do?" asked Fred.
"Tie the horses together, and swim the river. There are no Indians on the other side, and we can make Hartford easily."