Camp-fire and Wigwam

trifling with him. He surveyed the array of gleaming visages, and was sure that the leader indulged in a distinct wink and grotesque grimace, as expressive of his views of the situation. In

t and faced his captors with the best grace he cou

ut. He expected some indignity would be offered him, but there was none. This curious scene lasted only a few minutes, when the Indians gave the youth to understand that the journey westward was to

he Indian village before another halt. He was hopeful that in the stillness and darkness of night he would gain a chan

e. The others grinned again, and then the party appeared to fall apart and take different positions. Two vanished in the wood, while the others began hastily gathering dead limbs and decayed leaves. It seemed to Jack that less than three minutes had gone by when he saw the dim outlines of one of the warriors on his knees, striking the flint and steel, such as the pioneers, and, indeed, all persons, used in thos

water a short distance off made known what he had not suspected; a stream-only a few inches in depth and breadth-wound by the spot, without giving forth the

mpted to make a dash for liberty; but his clothing was still wet from that furious essay, and he was clearly of the opinion that the only thing for him to do was to make his captors believe (if it was possible) that he had given over all hope of g

rdity; but he did seek to convince them by his manner that he had given up the intention of running away, because he knew the attempt must be hopeless. Having

es around him. He looked at the flames as they crept up against the bark and scorched the rough coat of the massive oak, and he

Indians had attacked them, but when he noticed the indifference of those around, he saw his mistake. They did not s

ppeared. The foremost carried his rifle at a trail and had no game, but his companion, d

m, must have all gone to roost among the trees. The gloom was such that it was almost impossible for the keenest eye to distinguish them. They may have given some ev

t able to gain the first shot at any sort of game. There must be some secret about this performance which

man half cooks his bird without bothering himself with plucking out the feathers, and again he doesn't take the trouble even to scorch his food. In the present instance, they rippe

ppetizing nature. Jack caught a sniff and it literally made his "mouth water," for despite his unpleasant s

lf with a feeling of dismay; "if they do, I don't know what will b

ved a juicy slice of the game, which could not have tasted better had it been hung up in the cold for a week and then cooked by his mother. Ah, what art shall ever furnish a sauce like that of hunger itself! The meal finished, the party disposed of themselves for the night. Their red clay pipes, wit

able as he could wish. He took pains to place himself as near the camp fire as

believed, by name. He could not catch the precise word, but it sounded, as nearly as he c

in which it was spoken, he was convinced it was the real name of

ross-legged like a Turk, sending rings of smoke upward and watching them as they curled inward upon themselves and climbed out of sight. The

d then, imitating the guttural style of those around as be

all

ly as if some one had struck him in the throat, and with his mouth still in circular shape allowed the rings to go to ruin, while he stared in amazement at the boy who had prono

cially proud over his performance. The leader addressed some words to him, as if suspecting he understood his language after all, but