a little. Braxton Wyatt's advice certainly seemed good, and
he did not wish to be bound again. It would be better to go along in
docile fashion.

"All right, Braxton," he said, "I'll do as you suggest. We won't make them
any trouble now, but after a while we'll escape."

"That's the best way," said Wyatt.

Red Eagle and another warrior, who seemed to be his lieutenant, were
talking earnestly. The chief presently beckoned to Wyatt, who went over to
him and replied to several questions. But Wyatt came back in a few
moments, and took his seat again beside Paul.

A half hour later they resumed the march, and Paul knew by the sun that
they were going northward. Hence he inferred that they would make no
further attack upon the white hunters, and were bound for what they
called home. Refreshed by his rest and sleep, and relieved by the removal
of the bandages from his wrists, he walked beside Wyatt with a springy
step, and his outlook upon life was fairly cheerful. It was wonderful what
the comradeship of one of his own kind did for him! After all, he had
probably been deceived about Braxton Wyatt. Merely because his ways were
not the ways of Henry and Paul was not proof that he was not the right
kind of fellow. Now he was sympathetic and helpful enough, when sympathy
and help were needed.

The march northward was leisurely. The Shawnees seemed to have no further
expectation of meeting a foe, and they were not so vigilant. Paul and
Braxton Wyatt were kept in the center of the group, but they were
permitted to talk as much as they pleased, and Paul was not annoyed by any
blow or kick.

"Have you any idea how far it is to their village, Braxton?" Paul asked.

"A long distance," replied Wyatt. "We shall not be there under two weeks,
and as the party may turn aside for hunting or something else, it may be
much longer."

"It will give Henry and Ross and the others more time to rescue us," said
Paul.

Braxton Wyatt shrugged his shoulders.

"I wouldn't put much hope in that if I were you, Paul," he said. "This
band is very strong. Since the two parties joined it numbers forty
warriors, and our friends could do nothing. We must pretend to like them,
to fall in with their ways, and to behave as if we liked the wild life as
well as that back in the settlements, and in time would like it better."

"I could never do that," said Paul. "All kinds of savages repel me."

Braxton Wyatt shrugged his shoulders again.

"One must d