s if expecting an attempt to recover it, the savage thrust his head forward, with a tantalizing expression overspreading his ugly features. At the same moment he muttered som

rom that of his companion. When he found his rifle gone

his ain't de best place for me; I

had taken his second step only, when his captor grasped the ankle of the foot that was

were of a very sanguinary disposition, laughe

ick him loos

," replied Otto, trying with m

every one stood up and looked toward the point of interest. Several went forward to meet the captives, and the gener

friend; "we can't get away unt

hey mean to

a serious countenance; "I don't know to what tribe they bel

l don dem," was the truthful o

ange Indians, who were not in war paint, and who, as the boys rightly believed, belonged

al, grunting fashion, smiling and nodding their heads. Two of them pinched the limbs of the boys as though testing their muscle. So far from showing any alarm, Jack Carleton clenched h

rs. They must have known of the settlement only a few miles distant, and they had not offered to dist

were concerned, the Indians were safe. Although within gunshot of Martins

can race have shown a quickness from the first to pick up expressions from the language of those near them. Who has forgotten Samoset's "Wel

n much better than did his friend, listened ho

er hand, he was very far from feeling safe against harm. With a coolness that must have awakened admiration among the barbarians, the youth, stand

ajority sat down on the log, others sauntered away, relighting their pipes that had burned out, and the two who had

t of the log, and seating himself, "they don't mean to tomahawk us just

ot share his self-possession. He shook his head in a

es and Hurons on the outside," said Jack; "I don't understand how that ca

feel so bad," replied Otto with

he matter

e gun from me; if I goes back dot way,

for a moment an

if you go home without your gun the old gentleman will

t's

e can't be any meaner and

the ground in front, and slowly scratched his head. Manifestly

ll valks home and tells fader and moder dot I lo

d shook all over with laughter. There is something contagious in such an exhibition, as we all

father will be madder than ever when he goes back not only without the lost horse, but without some of the property he took away with him. Now that fear

liberty whenever the whim took possession of them, but nothing could be gained and a great deal might be lost by such an attempt. Stumpy and heavy-set as were the warriors, they could easily outrun their captives, and rather tha

er any one of the Indians was more ravenously hungry than were they. It would go hard

g, as may be said, the jaws of the entire party were vigorously at work. After receiving their respective shares, few made the slightest use of their knive

, "I believe they don't mean

Otto, who forgot that only a few hours had passed since he had partaken liberal

h force that his hat fell off. Jack had just time to see that it

hrowers, and they and half a doz

ng them with the much-needed nourishment, it was a strong proof of the indifference, if not the good-will of t

d meat with the gusto of those around him. Indeed he and Otto had eaten many a time in a similar style, and few persons fi

h had been given to remove all discomfort, and they would have fo

purpose respecting their prisoners? If so, what was it likely to be? Did they intend to kill them with rifle, tomahawk, or knife? Or would they be ta

ting-grounds were many leagues away. They were not Shawanoe, Huron, Pottawatomie, Osage, Miami, Delaware, Illinois, Kickapoo, or Winnebago. Sometimes a veteran trapper recognized the dress and general appearance that he had n

ced warriors, orators, and magnificent leaders, but it had its trave

distance in the interior, perhaps hundreds of miles, and that having comple

observed the party making preparations to le

he head, so as not to makes us fe

the boys naturally shared the excitement; but possibly their dismay can be imagined, when it became apparent that the red men intended to divide into tw