Be careful; it may be dangerous though it's dead."

"Yes; this seems to be dead," replied Morgan; "but I say, Master George,
I don't know whatever to do."

"Scrape a hole first, and bury that horrid thing," I said; "and then
perhaps we shall see what they are going to do."

"Not to kill us, are they?" he whispered.

I could not help giving a start of horror, and looking wildly round at
the Indians, who stood like so many statues looking on, as, in a hasty,
excited way, Morgan roughly kicked away some of the loose gravel, and
then with the rake-handle scraped out a good-sized hole, into which he
threw the snake's head and dragged the body, raking the loose gravel
back over them and stamping it down.

"Now then, Master George, what 'll us do next?"

"I don't know; let them take us away as prisoners, I suppose. We must
not try to run away, because they would follow, and we should lead them
home. Shall we run into the woods?"

"Never get there, my lad," he replied, sadly. "They'd have us before we
got a hundred yards."

All doubt as to our next proceedings were put an end to at once, for the
chief laid his hand upon my shoulder, and said, in a deep voice,
something which was quite unintelligible to us both.

I shook my head, but he grasped my arm firmly, and pointed toward the
forest.

"He means us to go," I said; and in obedience I walked toward the
darkest part, but the chief checked me, and pointed toward the spot
where our faint track lay which led toward the house; and feeling
constrained to obey, I gave Morgan a disconsolate look, and went slowly
on with the Indian walking by my side.

"We can't help it, Master George," said Morgan. "Don't be down-hearted,
lad. Perhaps they don't mean any harm, and let's hope your father or my
Sarah will see us in time to shut up the place, and get the guns down
from the racks."

The distance was very short, but it was the most painful walk I ever
had, for I felt as if I was being the guide to take the enemy right to
the place my father had toiled so hard to win from the wilderness, and
twice over I tried to deviate from the path, and lead the party into the
forest, so as to bear right away from the house.

But it was of no use. A strong hand gripped my arm instantly; there was
a stern look, a low, deep utterance, and the chief pointed again to the
right track.

It was useless to try and misunderstand him, and at last, after two more
feints, I felt that there w