tter try to slip in one by one, and
not disturb him," said the trapper.

"We should be missed before we could replace the stone, and they would
drag us from our hiding place as soon as we entered it. Whirlwind's
step is as noiseless as the wing of a bird, when after a foe. But
should the sentinel give the alarm, enter and close the door; for,
perchance, I may escape from them at last; if not, I shall have drawn
his attention from you so as to enable you to facilitate your escape."

"No, brave chief, we are captives together, and we will all be saved,
or perish together. You shall not be left alone for them to wreak their
vengeance upon. We will not enter the cave unless you are with us."

"My white brother speaks like a child. Whirlwind has said and will do
it," returned the chief, who possessed a truly royal soul, imperious in
decision, impatient of contradiction, and never turned from a course he
had determined to pursue, when assured it was for the good of others.

As he ceased speaking, he left the trapper, and disappeared in the
bushes. Howe thought it most prudent to obey the injunction of
Whirlwind, and making a sign to the children to follow, he carelessly
made his way to the spot, and with palpitating heart, awaited the
signal. The children shared with him the anxiety, till at last so
intense it became, that their hearts almost ceased to pulsate. Life or
death was in the throw, and death itself could not exceed the agony
they endured. The signal came at last--a circle in the air--which in an
instant tightened on the sentinel's throat; five minutes elapsed, when
the chief came bounding towards them with a tame deer, that belonged to
the tribe, in his arms, then rolling away the stone, and entering the
cavern, they replaced it with great precision, so as to prevent
detection. But great was their surprise and gratification to see the
cavern was quite light, by the rays penetrating innumerable small
fissures in the rocky precipice. Whirlwind immediately killed and
dressed the prize that so fortunately happened to be in his path; and
distributing it among them, they prepared to penetrate into the
darkness of the cave. Where they entered, it was about twenty feet
wide, and about fifty feet high, having the appearance of the rock
having been blasted, and hewn down smoothly at the sides. The floor was
of a solid rock, smooth and level, though strewn with some rubbish,
which they did not stop to examine. They were to