e.

Then I saw their dark figures go half way to the fire, return and pass
near us, and out along the banks of the river toward the settlement.

Then six more rose and went slowly out of sight among the trees, and I
felt that these must be going to form outposts to guard the little camp
from attack.

"Now, Mass' George," whispered Pomp--"ah, look dah."

I was already looking, and saw that about a dozen more left the fireside
to go out in different directions, their tall dark figures passing out
of sight among the trees.

"What are you going to do with the knife?" I whispered softly.

"'Top; you see," said the boy.

"But how did you get it?"

"You see dat Injum come feel de rope. He 'tuck Pomp head down under um
arm while he tie de knot hurt um, so Pomp mean to bite um; but Pomp see
de handle ob de knife 'tick up close to um mouf, and um take hold wid um
teef, pull um out, and let um fall and put um foot ober um."

"Oh, Pomp!" I said.

"Den he gone, Pomp push um out ob sight and put um foot ober um again,
and now I juss pick um up wid Pomp toe."

I heard a faint rustle, and then he whispered after a faint grunting
sound--

"Got um."

I stared sidewise at where he was--only about six feet away--and half
fancied that I could see him pick up the knife with his toes, and bend
his foot up till he could pass the blade into his hand.

"Hff!"

"What's the matter?" I whispered, as I heard a faint ejaculation.

"Pomp cut umself."

Then I heard a curious sawing sound, which seemed to be loud enough to
reach the Indians' ears, but as I looked, they were all talking, and I
turned my eyes again in the direction of my companion, whose black body
and light drawers had stood out plainly in the faint glow of the fire a
minute before, and I could only just restrain an exclamation, for he was
not there.

At the same moment his lips were at my ear--

"'Tan 'till."

I obeyed, and felt the tension and loosening as he rapidly cut through
the hide rope and the cane bonds which held me; but I was so stiff, and
my wrists were so numbed, that the feeling had gone from my hands.

"Mass' George ready?"

"No; yes," I said, as I gazed wildly at the group about the fire, and
felt that our movements must be seen. But the Indians made no sign, and
Pomp went on--

"Injum ebberywhere now. Can't run away."

"But we must," I whispered.

"Catchum gain, dreckerly. Dis here tree. Mass' George go up fuss."

"Up the tree