As soon as Tom opened his eyes he saw the pale, tearful faces of Rudolph
and Kitty. "Don't cry, youngsters," he gasped; "be good, and we may get
home again yet."

"Oh, come _now_," urged Kitty; "come tell mammy--mammy'll whip'em for
hurtin' 'oo; naughty Injins!"

Rudolph, forgetting his misery for an instant, laughed outright at
Kitty's words. The next instant he shook his head solemnly--at
her--"No, Kitty, mother couldn't whip 'em. But oh, I wish we were home!
I wish we were home!" he cried, giving vent to his terrors again, as he
saw a group of red men moving hastily towards them.

After dashing water over Tom's wounds and laying him upon a bed of
deer-skins, the savages seated themselves in a ring, and held a council
to decide the fate of the prisoners. The warriors sat in silence while a
great war-club was passed around the circle. Those who were in favor of
burning them alive struck the ground heavily with the weapon before
handing it to the next warrior; while those who objected to putting them
to death in that manner merely passed it on in silence.

Tom saw all this from where he lay, and he knew its meaning well. With a
sinking heart he heard the heavy thump of the club as each warrior gave
his cruel vote, until at last one chief, holding the club in the air,
pointed with a meaning gesture--first at Tom, then at Rudolph and Kitty.
The chiefs responded with a grunt of assent to his inquiry concerning
the latter, but shook their heads when their attention was directed to
Tom. Then the noble fellow knew that not his fate, but that of the
children was being decided; while they, unconscious little creatures,
looked on half amused at what seemed to them some singular game.