“There’s been some trick played,” said farmer Greening, “for all my servants went off this evening, and I should not be surprised that Mr Pemberton’s have done the same; but I hope Master Harry has kept the door shut, and not let the enemy inside.”
As may be supposed, on reaching the house, their consternation and grief was very great when they discovered that the inmates had gone; and from the overturned chairs, and the back and front doors being open, their alarm for the safety of their young friends was greatly increased.
“The savages have undoubtedly come and carried them off, but we may yet be in time to overtake them, if we can ascertain in what direction they have gone,” said Mr Osburn.
“See, the orchard gate is open,” said farmer Greening. “They must have gone this way, by the path which leads to the river.” They went on a little farther, when Tobias picked up a handkerchief.
“That must be Miss Lucy’s,” he exclaimed, “and probably dropped on purpose,” observed Mr Osburn.
On reaching the river, no signs, however, of the savages nor their captives were to be seen; and though they hurried along the bank for some distance, they were at length compelled to return, in a state of increased anxiety for their young friends, to the settlement.