before
the Indians saying simply "Eat." They drew out their knives and cut and
broiled each a slice of the meat. This they ate, and it was rather
remarkable that they did so, for Ree well knew that the Redskins had no
relish for food which had been freely salted. He therefore judged their
eating to be a sign of friendliness, and seated himself quietly by the
fire.

"White man go far--goes to Ohio? Yes--long way--far--far. Snow comes;
hurry fast," said the older Indian.

"Yes," said Ree, guessing at the speaker's meaning. "We have a long way
to go, and must be in our cabin before deep snow comes."

"Delaware country--much game," the Indian was saying, Ree having told him
whither they were bound, when suddenly a rifle cracked behind them and a
bullet whistled past Ree's ear. The young Indian at the opposite side of
the fire, gasped and fell backward.

Seizing his rifle, Ree instantly sprang away from the firelight. The
elder redskin did likewise and just as quickly.

Who could have fired the shot? Ree trembled with dread that it had been
John. All was quiet save for the night wind rustling the leaves and
branches overhead. There came no sound to indicate whose hand had sped
the bullet from out of the forest gloom.

A minute passed. It seemed like ten, to Return Kingdom, and, forgetting
prudence, he stepped from behind the cart's protection, full into the
campfire's ruddy glow, making of himself an easy target. He bent over the
wounded Indian and found the blood flowing from a wound in the young
brave's neck. Quickly he tied his handkerchief about the injury, then
bathed the fellow's forehead and temples with water from the bucket he
had filled at supper time. The older Indian crept up to watch this
operation, but did not come fully within the lighted circle.

"Who fired that shot, my friend?" Ree asked, very earnestly.

"White men steal," the Indian answered, and shook his head.

It was evident then that the savage suspected some white person of having
made this attack with intent to commit robbery. Ree hoped this was the
truth of the matter but there was a terrible suspicion growing in his
mind that his own friend and partner, through some awful mistake, had
fired upon the Indian. He drew the wounded man to the rear of the cart
and placed him on a blanket beyond the campfire's light. The other savage
made no move to help him, but crouched in the darkness intently
listening, watching.

Of a sudden the Indian's