-fire,
burning on the summit of an opposite hill. They had, indeed, at last
come up with the flying foe, but under circumstances far less favorable
to the execution of his plans than he had all along been proposing to
himself. The camp-fire was blazing brightly, as if it bad just been
kindled, or replenished with fresh fuel. Around it the savages were
moving to and fro, as could be seen by the shadows of their bodies cast
by the light, and, so far from having betaken themselves to rest, were
chatting away in high good humor, as might be guessed from their peals
of laughter borne faintly to the ear from over the valley lying dark and
deep between.

Aware that as matters stood at present the odds would be too largely
against him to allow of his bringing his adventure to a crisis just
then, Burl wisely resolved to wait till the savages, overcome at last by
fatigue, should yield themselves up to sleep--when, according to the
plan already cast in his mind, he would steal upon them, and by the
light of their own fire dispatch them with hatchet and knife, as
noiselessly as might be, one after another in quick succession, before
they could awake. But in order to fortify himself against desperate
resistance, should it come, he would himself take a little refreshment
and repose, the need of which, now that the long chase had come to a
pause, he felt beginning to press sorely upon him; accordingly, he
retired within the shadow of a spreading elm, which offered in its thick
foliage shelter from the dews of night, and in its mossy roots pillowing
for his head. Here, placing himself on the ground with his back against
the tree, he ate a few more slices of the jerked venison--Grumbo, of
course, receiving a comrade's share. Then, stretching his huge length
along the ground and bidding his dog stand sentinel while he slept, he
composed himself to rest--not doubting, son of Ebony though he was, but
that he could easily rouse himself before day-break, when, God willing,
he would work deliverance to his little master. And there lay Big Black
Burl asleep on his war-path.

Chapter VIII.

HOW BIG BLACK BURL FIGURED IN A QUANDARY.

A broad red glare, striking full upon his closed eyelids, and bringing
with it the alarming thought that Fort Reynolds had been set on fire by
an army of besieging Indians, roused Big Black Burl from the deepest,
heaviest sleep he had ever known. With a huge start he had scrambled to
his feet, and, blin