-he go 'gain
to-morrow mebbe--dunno."

Meantime the discussion in the council was drawing to a climax. With
the astuteness of a true leader Copperhead ceased to urge his view, and,
unable to secure the best, wisely determined to content himself with the
second-best. His vehement tone gave place to one of persuasion. Finally
an agreement appeared to be reached by all. With one consent the council
rose and with hands uplifted they all appeared to take some solemn oath.

"What are they saying?" whispered Cameron.

"He say," replied Jerry, "he go meet Blackfeet and when he bring 'em
back den dey keel us sure t'ing. But," added Jerry with a cheerful
giggle, "he not keel 'em yet, by Gar!"

For some minutes they waited in silence, then they saw Copperhead with
his bodyguard of Sioux disappear from the circle of the firelight into
the shadows of the forest.

"Now you go sleep," whispered Jerry. "Me keep watch."

Even before he had finished speaking Cameron had lain back upon the
ground and in spite of the pain in his tightly bound limbs such was his
utter exhaustion that he fell fast asleep.

It seemed to him but a moment when he was again awakened by the touch
of a hand stealing over his face. The hand reached his lips and rested
there, when he started up wide-awake. A soft hiss from the back of the
hut arrested him.

"No noise," said a soft guttural voice. Again the hand was thrust
through the brush wall, this time bearing a knife. "Cut string,"
whispered the voice, while the hand kept feeling for the thongs that
bound Cameron's hands. In a few moments Cameron was free from his bonds.

"Give me the knife," he whispered. It was placed in his hands.

"Tell you squaw," said the voice, "sick boy not forget."

"I will tell her," replied Cameron. "She will never forget you." The boy
laid his hand on Cameron's lips and was gone.

Soon Jerry too was free. Slowly they wormed their way through the flimsy
brush wall at the back, and, crouching low, looked about them. The camp
was deep in sleep. The fires were smoldering in their ashes. Not an
Indian was moving. Lying across the front of their little hut the
sleeping form of their guard could be seen. The forest was still black
behind them, but already there was in the paling stars the faint promise
of the dawn. Hardly daring to breathe, they rose and stood looking at
each other.

"No stir," said Jerry with his lips at Cameron's ear. He dropped on his
hands and knees and