d at the spot. I'm afraid it would mix things
for Hay-uta and Deerfoot, if any of them should get a sight of me."

He was reminded of the experience of himself and Otto Relstaub when,
some weeks before, they were made captives by the Sauks, within a short
distance of Martinsville. At that time, one or two of the warriors,
while the boys were watching them, walked away from the camp in such an
off-hand manner, that neither dreamed their real purpose was to pass to
the rear of the prowlers and make them prisoners.

"I'll keep my eyes on him," was the wise conclusion of Jack, "and if he
starts off in the woods, I'll slide down this tree and make a change of
base in short order."

To the great relief of Jack the warrior did not maintain his impressive
pose, nor did he do what was dreaded and half expected. One of the red
men addressed him and he immediately gave attention.

"It was only an accident," was the conclusion of the youth; "he couldn't
have seen me--helloa!"

Jack had full warrant for his excitement, for, at that moment, who
should walk into his field of vision but Deerfoot, the young Shawanoe.

He advanced from the wood as I have already described, and saluting the
astonished Pawnees with a certain stateliness, opened the conversation.
He was not long in discovering that Lone Bear was the only one with whom
he could converse intelligently, and the two, as you remember, were soon
seated beside each other. It was Lone Bear who, at the first glance,
Jack Carleton thought was looking at him.

The dread that the boy felt, when first left alone, that time would hang
heavily on his hands was gone. He knew the Shawanoe well enough to feel
certain that he would keep things moving.

And so he did. I will not repeat the story of Deerfoot's experience,
which partook more of a comedy than of a tragedy. The young Kentuckian
held his breath when Lone Bear drew his knife and rushed upon the
Shawanoe, and his excitement was almost irrestrainable as the latter
began dancing backward with his infuriated assailant plunging and
striking at him. When the Pawnee sprawled, with his feet kicking the
air, Jack forgot where he was and laughed with delight.

"Hurrah for Deerfoot!" he called; "the whole crowd ain't enough for you!
you are worth all of them!"

The Pawnees were on their feet hurrying toward the combatants, and
scarcely less excited than the young Kentuckian perched in the tree-top.
But, stirring as was the incident,