He stood up in his stirrups, and swept his eyes anxiously about in every direction.
"Good Lord! maybe we better be gittin' 'long out o' yere right smart. Thar ain't nuthin' ter stay fer; we can't help them ded men none, an' only the devil himself knows whar them Injuns hav' gone. Yer git the gurls away afore they see whut's yere—down yonder, inter the valley."
I took one more glance at the sight, fascinated by its very horror, then wheeled my terrified horse, and rode back. Heartless as his words sounded, they were nevertheless true. We could be of no aid to the dead, while upon us yet rested the duty of guarding the living. The young negress lifted her head, and gazed at me dully, so thoroughly tired as to be indifferent as to what had occurred; but Eloise read instantly the message of my face.
"You have looked upon something terrible," she cried. "What was it? a dead body?"
"Eleven dead bodies," I answered gravely, my lips trembling. "A squad of militiamen were surprised by Indians over there, and slaughtered to a man, apparently with no chance to even defend themselves. I have never seen a more terrible sight."
"Indians, you say! Here?" her eyes widening in horror. "When do you suppose this happened? how long ago?"
"Within twelve hours certainly; probably soon after dawn. The attack must have been made while the soldiers were at breakfast."
"Then—then those Indians cannot be far away?"
"We have no means of knowing; but it will be assuredly safer for us to get under cover. Come, both of you."
"They were all killed—all of them? You are sure?"