Petaille and Lecuyer at length brought two of the horses, but the others could nowhere be found.

In time, Mr.
Kinzie and Harry returned, wet to their knees by the dew upon the long prairie-grass, but with no tidings.

Again the men were dispatched after having broken their fast, but returned unsuccessful as before.
The morning had been passed by our party at the encampment in speculating upon the missing animals.

Could they have been stolen by the Indians?
Hardly: these people seldom committed robberies in time of peace--never upon our family, whom they regarded as their best friends.
The horses would doubtless be found.

They had probably been carelessly fastened the preceding evening, and had therefore been able to stray farther than was their wont.
A council was held, at which it was decided to send Grignon back to Chicago to get some fresh horses from Gholson Kercheval, and return as speedily as possible.