"I will do the best I can. We have a detachment of troops which I am to land at your yard, Phil," continued the captain.
"I'm glad to hear that. The Indians will give us no peace until they have been punished for the mischief they have done."
"Did you say this gentleman was Ella's father?" asked the captain, pointing to Mr. Gracewood, who had gone to the bow of the boat, and was on the lookout for the Indians.
I told him all that had transpired since we met the evening before, including the capture of Ella.
"If he is Ella's father, his wife is on board," said the captain. "I suppose I must tell her what has happened to her daughter; but I don't like to do it."
As he left me to perform this unpleasant duty, I saw two ladies and three gentlemen, two of them officers, coming down the steps from the boiler deck. I inferred that one of these ladies was the mother of Ella. She had evidently received an intimation that something had occurred to her daughter, for she was very much disturbed.
"What has happened, Captain Davis? Where is Ella?" she demanded, in broken tones.
"I am sorry to say that the news is not as pleasant as I could wish," replied the captain.
"Where is she?" cried Mrs. Gracewood.
"Her father is here, and——"