e to pass your knives across
their throats."

"Savages as they are, I would not for one moment dream of killing them,
whatever they intended to do to us," said Jack.

Armitage and Story agreed with him, as did I. We therefore at once
resolved to steal off as soon as we had recovered our rifles, the only
weapons of which we had been deprived; and though they were close to
where our captors were sleeping, they might easily be reached. Our plan
was then to try and get hold of our horses, and when they were secured
we might recover the remainder of our property and deprive the Indians
of their arms. We should thus teach them a lesson of mercy; for when
they recovered their senses they could not fail to see how completely
they had been in our power, and that we might have put the whole of them
to death had we been so disposed.

The old trapper volunteered to manage the most dangerous part of the
undertaking, that of recovering our rifles. Telling us to remain where
we were, apparently still bound to the trees, he crept forward on hands
and knees, disappearing in the surrounding gloom. Not a sound did we
hear until he came back, carrying in either hand a rifle, which he
placed at our feet. He then made a second trip, which was as successful
as the first; but the Indians' spears and several of our spare rifles
had still to be obtained. He went very cautiously to work, for he was
evidently not at all confident that one of the Indians might not awake.
I would gladly have assisted him, had he not urged us to remain quiet.
I felt greatly relieved when he at length returned with the last rifles.

"But we want our saddles!" whispered Dick.

I told Folkard where to find them.

"You shall have them," he answered, and again set off. I much feared
that he might be discovered, as he would have to go into the camp
itself, and the slightest sound might awaken our enemies.

We waited and waited: again I felt a strong inclination to steal forward
and assist him. Just as I was about to do so, he reappeared bringing
two saddles and bridles.

Still it was of consequence, if we could manage it, to possess ourselves
of the Indians' bows and spears. I again offered to accompany the
trapper. He thought a moment.

"It may be done," he said, "if you step cautiously, for they are more
soundly asleep than I had supposed; but, if any of them should awake,
you must be prepared to knock them on the head--our own safety will
demand it