thing more at present," said Mackintosh, as he turned to
the lads. "We'll pitch our camp over yonder and talk things over."

After the camp was pitched and food partaken, Mackintosh decided to pay
a visit to Swift Arrow, to see if he could not manage to argue that old
man into a state of reason, so as to support another appeal to Mighty
Hand. It had not been considered advisable to press for an interview
with the captives, lest they might be too closely watched, and any
future attempt at rescue be thus frustrated.

"I'll just go by mysel'," the man explained. "Swift Arrow is an old
friend o' mine, and no' a bad creature in many ways. Haggis is away
cracking with some o' his friends also. You'll not mind being left alone
for a time? I'll no' be long."

"We don't mind," said Bob. "Anything to see light in this difficulty.
We'll be all right."

"Very well. I'll be back as soon as I can, and I'll hope to have good
news for you."

Left to themselves, the lads did not speak much, for their hearts were
very heavy, knowing that if some plan of rescue was not thought of
within a few hours it would be too late.

For a considerable time they were absolutely silent, lying within the
tent, surrounded by stores and the various tins and boxes of the
naturalist's outfit.

Then Bob's mind began to wander over all the events that led up to the
present day, and, in wondering at the blind ignorance that could yield
so much to a mere legend, he recalled the chiefs last words--

"'The totem will not let the redmen do wrong,'" he quoted mentally.
"Fools! As if a serpent could tell them to do anything in the first
place! How can any reasoning person be so---- Alf!"

Bob had suddenly sprung to his feet as he uttered the exclamation, and
Holden started to look at his friend, as if he had suddenly lost his
senses.

"Why, what's the matter, old man?" he exclaimed. "Have you been asleep?"

"Asleep? No! Never was wider awake in all my life. Why, I've got it.
They are saved! They are saved!" And the boy laughed for very joy at the
thought.

"What do you mean?" questioned Holden anxiously. It was little wonder
that he believed for the moment that anxiety had brought his chum to a
fever.

"Mean?" the elder boy echoed. "Simply this--that our fathers shall be
saved, and you and I will do it. It's all so simple. We must have been
fools not to think of it before!"

CHAPTER XX

THE FIERY TOTEM

The two men--Arnold and Holden--w