uld find
himself in a pathless plain, without provisions, and with no other guide
than the sun. If he should meet with no party, he would die of
starvation. The prospect seemed by no means bright.

I am bound to say that, for a time, Tom, in spite of his bright,
sanguine temperament, was greatly depressed; but his spirits were
elastic.

"I won't give up to despair," he said to himself. "Something tells me
that I shall come out right. I must wait and watch my chances."

Upon this his face brightened, and his air, which had been listless,
became more animated. The Indians glanced at him, with grave approval.
They concluded that he was becoming reconciled to living among them.

When the simple midday meal was placed upon the ground, and the Indians
gathered around it in a sitting posture, Tom followed their example, and
did full justice to the dinner. In fact, he had taken so much exercise
that he felt hungry. Besides, he knew that he must keep up his strength,
if he wished to escape; so, instead of keeping aloof in sullen
dissatisfaction, he displayed a "healthy appetite."

After resting several hours the Indians resumed their journey, but did
not travel far. They were in no hurry. They had no long journey to make
across the continent. They only wished to go far enough to be safe from
attack by a rescuing party of Tom's friends. Again they encamped, and
this time, from the preparations made, he understood that it was for the
night.

One thing Tom could not help noticing--the silence of these red children
of the plains. They seemed to make no conversation with each other,
except on necessary matters, and then their words were few in number,
replies being often made in a monosyllable.

"They don't seem very social," thought Tom. "I suppose they have nothing
to talk about. I wonder if the squaws ever have sewing-circles. If they
have, they can't be much like Yankee women if they don't find plenty to
talk about."

The silence became oppressive. Tom would have liked to take a walk, but
he knew that this would not be allowed. It would be thought that he
wanted to escape. Yet to sit mute hour after hour seemed to Tom
intolerably stupid. A bold idea came to him. He would try to afford them
some amusement.

Accordingly, he said to the interpreter: "Shall I show you a trick?"

The interpreter communicated the proposal to his comrades, and
permission was granted.

Tom took from his pocket a penny. He explained to the i