nine in the morning
How far she was to be taken she could not say , but she felt sure that in a week 's traveling her friends would make up for the day lost at starting . She knew that they might not be able to attack the Indians directly they came up , for they could not be a very strong party , whereas the Indians were several hundred strong ; but she believed that sooner or later , in some way or other , her father and brothers would come to her rescue . Ethel from that time forward did not doubt for a moment . Trusting thus firmly in her friends , she gained confidence and courage ; and when the troops halted at nine in the morning , after nine hours ' riding , Ethel was able to look round with some sort of curiosity and interest . It was here that an incident occurred , which , although she knew it not at the time , entirely altered her destination and prospects . She was sitting upon the ground , when a man , who by his bearing appeared to be the principal chief present , passed in earnest talk with another chief . In the latter she recognized at once one of the wounded Indian prisoners .