hand to his feet. A dozen warriors now sprang to the
assistance of their comrade, when the whole, having
disarmed and bound their prisoner, led him back in triumph
to their encampment.




CHAPTER IX.

The fires of the Indians were nearly now extinct; but
the faint light of the fast dawning day threw a ghastly,
sickly, hue over the countenances of the savages, which
rendered them even more terrific in their war paint. The
chiefs grouped themselves immediately around their
prisoner, while the inferior warriors, forming an outer
circle, stood leaning their dark forms upon their rifles,
and following, with keen and watchful eye, every movement
of their captive. Hitherto the unfortunate officer had
been too much engrossed by his despair to pay any immediate
attention to the individual who had first discovered and
seized him. It was sufficient for him to know all hope
of the safety of the garrison had perished with his
captivity: and, with that recklessness of life which
often springs from the very consciousness of inability
to preserve it, he now sullenly awaited the death which
he expected at each moment would be inflicted. Suddenly
his ear was startled by an interrogatory, in English,
from one who stood behind him.