nterpreter that
he would swallow the penny, and make it come out at his nose--a common
boy's trick. The Indians, to whom this also was communicated, looked
curious and incredulous, and Tom proceeded.

Now, I am not going to explain how Tom accomplished the illusion. That I
leave to the ingenuity of my boy readers to discover. It is enough to
say that he succeeded, to the great amazement of his copper-colored
spectators. There was a chorus of ughs! and Tom was requested to repeat
the trick.

He did so, the Indians being as puzzled as before.

Now, Indians are, in many respects, like children. They displayed, on
this occasion, a childish curiosity and wonder that amused Tom. They
insisted on his opening his month, to ascertain whether there was any
hidden avenue from his mouth to his nose, and found, to their surprise,
that his mouth was like their own. Then one of the Indians volunteered
to try the experiment, and nearly choked himself with the penny, which,
it must be remembered, was one of the large, old-fashioned, copper
coins, in circulation before the war. It cannot be said that he turned
black in the face, but he certainly gasped, and rolled his eyes in a
manner that alarmed his friends, and they instinctively looked to Tom
for help. Tom was equal to the emergency. He rose hastily, slapped the
Indian forcibly on the back, and the cent was ejected from his mouth.

There was another chorus of ughs! and it was evident that Tom had risen
vastly in their opinion. They looked upon him as a white magician, and
even were a little afraid that he might work them injury in some way.
But Tom's frank, good-humored manner reassured them. They asked him,
through the interpreter, if he could perform any other tricks. Tom knew
a few, that he had learned out of an old tattered book which had fallen
in his way at home; and such as he had facilities for he attempted, to
the great delight of his new friends. Tom was becoming popular; and even
those who had at first recommended death were glad that his life had
been spared.

CHAPTER XXXII.

TOM'S ESCAPE.

Night came, and the Indian camp was hushed and still. It was long before
Tom went to sleep. Generally he was a good sleeper, but his mind at
present was too active for slumber. "How long is this strange life going
to last?" he asked himself. "How long am I to be exiled from
civilization?" This was more easily asked than answered.

When he slept, his sleep was troubled