Then he knew it would be in vain to try to get in, so he looked about for a safe place to hide Matty till he could come for her.
He was a brave man, and could fight, so he had no thought of hiding while his neighbors needed help; but the dear little daughter must be cared for first.
"In the corner of the lonely pasture which they dared not cross, stood a big hollow elm, and there the farmer hastily hid Matty, dropping her down into the dim nook, round the mouth of which young shoots had grown, so that no one would have suspected any hole was there.
"Lie still, child, till I come; say your prayers and wait for father,' said the man, as he parted the leaves for a last glance at the small, frightened face looking up at him.
"'Come soon,' whispered Matty, and tried to smile bravely, as a stout settler's girl should.
"Mr.Kilburn went away, and was taken prisoner in the fight, carried off, and for years no one knew whether he was alive or dead.

People missed Matty, but supposed she was with her father, and never expected to see her again.

A great while afterward the poor man came back, having escaped and made his way through the wilderness to his old home.

His first question was for Matty, but no one had seen her; and when he told them where he had left her, they shook their heads as if they thought he was crazy.

But they went to look, that he might be satisfied; and he was; for they they found some little bones, some faded bits of cloth, and two rusty silver buckles marked with Matty's name in what had once been her shoes.