It is indeed Christ's mercy that so few of your company were spared to be thus tortured; but there was naught left for me but prayer." She stooped forward, her hands pressed over her eyes as though she would shut out the horror.
"Yet know you who among the whites have thus far preserved their lives ?" I urged, in an agony of suspense.

"Were any of the women brought alive to the camp ?" "It was my fortune to see but one; nor was I permitted to approach her,--a sweet-faced girl, yet she could not be the one you seek, for she wore a wedding-ring.

She was saved through the friendship of Black Partridge, and I heard that she is a daughter of the Silver-man." "Ay! Mrs.Helm! Thank God! But was she the only one ?" "Truly, I know not; for I was forced away from sight of much that went on.

Little Sauk has a white maiden hidden in his lodge, who was brought from the battle.

I have not seen the girl, but know this through others who were angry at his good-fortune." "Could we reach there, think you, unobserved ?" She rose, and gazed anxiously across the stream, her face showing clear and fair in the faint light of those distant fires, while I caught the glimmer of a pearl rosary about her white throat and marked a silver crucifix resting against her breast.
"It will be life itself you venture in such an attempt," she said softly, "even its loss through torture; yet 't is a deed that might be done, for the Indians are fairly crazed with blood and liquor, and will pay small heed to aught save their heathen orgies." "Then let us venture it." She turned slightly and looked at me intently, her dark eyes filled with serious thought.
"Yes, we will go," she responded at last, slowly.