in the expedition it was found that two other girls besides little Nell were missing—twins named Mary and Bertha Rose, the children of a pioneer who lived fifteen miles to the north of the Morris homestead. Mrs. Rose was as grief-stricken as Mrs. Morris, and both wept together when they met.
"I shall remain behind to see if I can't find some trace of all the children," said James Morris.
"And I'll do the same," said Nelson Rose. "I would rather give up my life than leave my two girls in the Indians' power."
"Reckon as how I'll stay behind with ye," put in Sam Barringford. Although he never admitted it, little Nell was very dear to the old frontiersman's heart.
"White Buffalo will also look for little Brightface," said the Indian chief. "But he is much afraid the French Indians have carried all three of the maidens off."
So it was decided, and when the expedition moved off the three white men and the Indian with his followers were left behind. Captain Tanner and Lieutenant Baldwick were now pretty certain that the Indians would not make another attack in a hurry, and this was why he readily consented to
