heir comrade; but they were glad to have one prisoner. They reined up
their horses, and halted beside the still insensible boy. They held a
brief consultation, and decided not to continue the pursuit. They could
see the encampment, which Scott was sure to reach before he could be
overtaken. They could not tell the number of the party to which he
belonged; but, being few in numbers themselves, the risk would be a
hazardous one. They decided to retire with their prisoner. Tom was
lifted to a seat in front of one of the party, and they rode leisurely
back.

This was the position in which our hero found himself when he roused
from his stupor. One glance revealed to him the whole. His heart sank
within him. They might kill him. Remembering the ghastly sights he had
seen on his trip across the plains, he thought it likely that they
would. Life was sweet to Tom. To what boy of sixteen is it not? It
seemed hard to be cut off in the threshold of an active career, and by
savage hands. But there was an additional pang in the thought that now
he would be unable to help his father. The result of his plan would only
be to impose an additional burden upon the modest home which his father
found it so hard to keep up. Tom sighed; and, for the first time in his
life, he felt discouraged.

He looked about him, scanning the dark, grave faces, and read no hope or
encouragement in any. Finally the Indians came to a halt at their old
camping-ground, and Tom was lifted from the horse. He was placed upon
the ground, in the center of the group. Then followed a consultation.
From the glances directed toward him Tom understood that he was the
subject of deliberation. In fact, his fate was being decided.

It was certainly a trying ordeal for our young hero. He was not sure of
half an hour's life. An unfavorable decision might be followed by
immediate execution. Tom felt that his best course was to remain
perfectly passive. He could not understand what was said; but we are
able to acquaint the reader with the general purport of the conference.

Several of the Indians favored immediate death.

"Our brother's blood calls for vengeance," they said. "The white boy
must die."

"The boy did not kill him," said others. "It was the white warrior who
spilled our brother's blood. He must be pursued and slain."

"What, then, shall be done with the boy? Shall he go?"

"No; we will keep him. He has strong limbs. We will adopt him into our
tribe. He will