as nothing else to be done but to allow
myself to be forced onward.

Just before we came in sight of the house, the chief said something, and
two of the men pushed Morgan forward till he was close to me, and one of
the men walked on his left and the other came behind.

"See what that means, Master George?"

"No; what does it mean?"

"That Indians are clever as white men, and they've put us in the front
rank to keep any one from firing at them."

I saw it plainly enough now, for as we advanced, my father appeared at
the window, and I saw a gun in his hand.

He started as he caught sight of us two prisoners, but feeling, I
suppose, that any attempt at defence was useless under the
circumstances, he left the window for a moment or two, and I heard his
voice speaking. Then he reappeared, and climbed out of the window, the
door being closed and fastened.

He stepped forward boldly with the firelock resting on his arm, and
walked to where the Indians had halted, holding out his hand in token of
friendship, but it was not taken, the Indians' eyes running from him all
over and about the place, as if they were astonished at what they saw.

"Tell me quickly," said my father, "but be cool. Everything depends
upon our treating them in a friendly way, and not being afraid."

I told him how we had been surprised, and his face looked very grave as
he listened.

"Well," he said, "we are in their power. If I fired it might bring
help, but it would be too late to benefit us; and for aught we know, the
rest of the tribe may already be up in the settlement. Stay with them
and don't attempt to escape."

The Indian chief watched us curiously as my father talked to me, and two
of his men half started forward as my father turned away to go back to
the house.

But a word from the chief checked them, and every eye was fixed upon the
returning figure, as my father walked to the door, beat upon it, called
Sarah to open, and then passed in.

The faces of the Indians were a study, but they preserved their stolid
looks, and uttered a sigh of satisfaction as my father appeared again
with such provisions as the place afforded, and proceeded to offer them
to our visitors.

I watched everything attentively, and saw the men stand fast without
looking either at my father or the provisions which he placed before
them, till the chief said a few words in a loud tone.

Then with an eagerness in sharp contrast to their former apathy, they