But not a trace! The expedition fell upon a band of redskins over on the Walhonding, and killed nearly all of them.

I learned from a wounded Indian that a renegade had made off with a white girl about a week previous.

Perhaps it was poor Lucy." Jim related the circumstances of his own capture by Jim Girty, the rescue of Nell, and Kate's sad fate.
"Could Jim Girty have gotten your girl ?" inquired Jim, in conclusion.
"It's fairly probable.

The description doesn't tally with Girty's.
This renegade was short and heavy, and noted especially for his strength.

Of course, an Indian would first speak of some such distinguishing feature.