d make out who it was, for the light was not at first sufficient to
enable me to distinguish objects at a distance. I had long to wait. I
should have to guide my movements according to which of my friends was
in captivity. If it should prove to be Noggin, I might hope that Blount
had escaped their vigilance; but if he himself was the prisoner, I
should have to fear that Noggin had already fallen a victim to their
ferocity.

"I had long to wait. One warrior after another got up, and made a
vociferous speech, till at last one of them threw a large handful of
sticks into the fire. At the same moment it was fanned by a fresh blast
of wind which rustled through the forest, and flames darting upwards for
a few moments, by their light I recognised the features of Noggin. His
eyes were fixed on the group of warriors, as if he was trying to make
out what they were saying. There was an expression of horror and
despair on his countenance, for he knew full well that a death of
torture was prepared for him. I observed, however, that his lips were
firmly pressed together, as if he had made up his mind not to flinch,
however much he might be called to suffer, while life might last. I
looked round for Blount; he was nowhere to be seen; and as I could not
discern any bloody scalp hung up on a pole as a trophy of their prowess,
I began to hope that he might have escaped the vigilance of our enemies,
and that I might still fall in with him.

"My great desire was, in the first place, to rescue Noggin; but how to
do so was the question. Succour might almost seem hopeless. Even
should Blount be alive and at large, he and I together could scarcely
hope to succeed. I counted our enemies; there were twenty altogether.
Three of these, from their costume and the way they talked, I judged to
be chiefs or principal men. Three more, one of whom certainly was a
chief, I had sent to their long home. As I could do no more good by
staying in so dangerous a neighbourhood, I waited till another long
speech was begun, and then crept back as carefully as I had approached,
towards my canoe. I reached it in safety, and pushing off I crossed to
the opposite side of the stream.

"I hunted about till I discovered a point with bushes growing thickly on
it. Here I landed; and hauling up my canoe, hoped that I might remain
concealed, should the red-skins again come down to the side of the river
to look for me. After I had done this, so fatigued w