nted, now and then
playing a tune to keep up me spirits and put them in good-humour.

"The long and the short of it is, that they made me prisoner, and
brought me along with them; until we found some horses, on which--
stopping a night or two on the way--we galloped along till we reached
this place.

"And here I am, Masther Roger! well pleased to find that you're alive,
and to bear you company."

And so Mike concluded his story.

The Indians allowed Mike and me to talk together without interfering
with us. I told him that I would try to escape as soon as I could.

"Sure, and that is what I'll be afther," he answered. "But it's more
easily said than done, I am afraid. However, where there is a will
there is a way; and cunning as the Ridskins think themselves, maybe
we'll be even with them."

While we were talking we had observed some commotion among the
inhabitants of the lodges; and presently we caught sight of a band of
horsemen scouring across the prairie towards us, and flourishing their
spears as they came along. At first I thought they might be enemies;
but as no preparations were made for the defence of the camp, I knew
that they must be friends. In a few minutes they galloped up; and the
leading warriors, decked in war-paint and feathers, dismounted, each of
them carrying one or more scalps hanging to the end of his spear. Our
chief, Aguskogaut, who had put on his finest robes, advanced to meet
them while they stepped forward; and their leader began a long harangue,
which sounded very fine, although I could not make out what it was all
about.

Mike and I stood on one side, thinking it as well to keep out of the
way. The new-comers, however, after a time began to point towards where
we were standing; and I guessed they were talking about us, and
inquiring how we happened to be there.

Aguskogaut then, as we supposed, gave them an account of what had
occurred; to which (as I judged from their gestures) they replied, that
we ought to have been killed, and our scalps taken to adorn their
lodges. On this Aguskogaut--who was, happily, our friend--made another
speech; and lifting up his hand to heaven, appeared to be invoking the
Great Spirit, and letting his countrymen understand that we were under
his protection, and that no harm must happen to us. So successful was
his eloquence, that the warriors appeared to be satisfied. At all
events, we were allowed to move about within sight of the camp, no o