e the sincerity of the lad's tone. Inmutanka, otherwise the
Panther, smiled, and the smile was not cruel, nor yet cynical. He
stepped back a little, regarded his handiwork with satisfaction, and
then merged himself into the band.

"That's a good Sioux! I know he is!" said Will warmly to Heraka.
"Hereafter Dr. Inmutanka shall be my personal and private physician."

Heraka's face was touched by a faint smile. It was the first mild
emotion he had shown and Will rejoiced to see it. He found himself
wishing to please this wild chief, not in any desire to seek favor, but
he felt that, in its way, the approval of Heraka was approval worth
having.

"You eat, you drink, you feel strong again," said Heraka.

"Yes, that's it."

"Then we go. We are mountain Sioux. We have a village deep in the high
mountains that white men can never find. We will take you there, where
you will await your fate, never knowing what it is nor when it will
come."

Will was shaken once more by a terrible shudder. This constant harping
upon the mysterious but fearful end that was sure to overtake him was
having its effect. Heraka had reckoned right when he began the torture
of the mind. The chief spoke sharply to the warriors and putting out the
fire they gathered up their weapons and the horses. Will was mounted on
one of the ponies and his ankles were tied together beneath the animal's
body, but loosely only, enough to prevent a sudden flight though not
enough to cause pain. There was no saddle, but as he was used to riding
bare-backed he could endure it indefinitely.

Then the chief did a surprising thing, binding a piece of soft deerskin
over Will's eyes so tightly that not a ray of light entered.

"Why do you do that, Heraka?" asked the lad.

"That you may not see which way you go, nor what is by the path as you
ride. Soon, with your eyes covered you will lose the sense of direction
and you will not be able to tell whether you go north or south or east
or west."

He spoke sharply to the warriors and the group set off. The direction at
first was toward the north, as Will well knew, but the band presently
made many curves and changes of course, and, as Heraka had truly said,
he ceased to have any idea of the course they were taking. He saw
nothing, but he heard all around him the footfalls of the ponies, and,
now and then, the word of one warrior to another. He might have raised
his hands to tear loose the bandage over his eyes, but he knew