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felt rather than sawthese savages were fierce and untamable。 He was sorry
for Jim； because； as he believed； it would be as easy to teach the panther
gentleness toward his prey as to instill into one of these wild creatures a
belief in Christ。
The braves manifested keen pleasure in anticipation as to what they would get
out of the pack； which the Indian now opened。 Time and again the big brave
placed his broad hand on the shoulder of a comrade Indian and pushed him
backward。
Finally the pack was opened。 It contained a few articles of wearing apparel； a
pair of boots； and a pipe and pouch of tobacco。 The big Indian kept the latter
articles； grunting with satisfaction； and threw the boots and clothes to the
others。 Immediately there was a scramble。 One brave； after a struggle with
another； got possession of both boots。 He at once slipped off his moccasins
and drew on the white man's foot…coverings。 He strutted around in them a few
moments； but his proud manner soon changed to disgust。
Cowhide had none of the soft； yielding qualities of buckskin； and hurt the
Indian's feet。 Sitting down； he pulled one off； not without difficulty； for
the boots were wet； but he could not remove the other。 He hesitated a moment；
being aware of the subdued merriment of his comrades； and then held up his
foot to the nearest one。 This chanced to be the big Indian； who evidently had
a keen sense of humor。 Taking hold of the boot with both hands； he dragged the
luckless brave entirely around the camp…fire。 The fun； however； was not to be
all one…sided。 The big Indian gave a more strenuous pull； and the boot came
off suddenly。 Unprepared for this； he lost his balance and fell down the bank
almost into the creek。 He held on to the boot； nevertheless； and getting up；
threw it into the fire。
The braves quieted down after that； and soon lapsed into slumber； leaving the
big fellow； to whom the chief had addressed his brief command； acting； as
guard。 Observing Joe watching him as he puffed on his new pipe； he grinned；
and spoke in broken English that was intelligible； and much of a surprise to
the young man。
〃Palefacetobac'heap good。〃
Then； seeing that Joe made no effort to follow his brother's initiative； for
Jim was fast asleep； he pointed to the recumbent figures and spoke again in。
〃Ugh！ Paleface sleepInjun wigwamsnear setting sun。〃
On the following morning Joe was awakened by the pain in his legs； which had
been bound all night。 He was glad when the bonds were cut and the party took
up its westward march。
The Indians； though somewhat quieter； displayed the same carelessness： they
did not hurry； nor use particular caution； but selected the most open paths
through the forest。 They even halted while one of their number crept up on a
herd of browsing deer。 About noon the leader stopped to drink from a spring；
his braves followed suit and permitted the white prisoners to quench their
thirst。
When they were about to start again the single note of a bird far away in the
woods sounded clearly on the quiet air。 Joe would not have given heed to it
had he been less attentive。 He instantly associated this peculiar bird…note
with the sudden stiffening of Silvertip's body and his attitude of intense
listening。 Low exclamations came from the braves as they bent to catch the
lightest sound。 Presently； above the murmur of the gentle fall of water over
the stones； rose that musical note once more。 It was made by a bird； Joe
thought； and yet； judged by the actions of the Indians； how potent with
meaning beyond that of the simple melody of the woodland songster！ He turned；
half expecting to see somewhere in the tree…tops the bird which had wrought so
sudden a change in his captors。 As he did so from close at hand came the same
call； now louder； but identical with the one that had deceived him。 It was an
answering signal； and had been given by Silvertip。
It flashed into Joe's mind that other savages were in the forest； they had run
across the Shawnees' trail； and were thus communicating with them。 Soon dark
figures could be discerned against the patches of green thicket； they came
nearer and nearer； and now entered the open glade where Silvertip stood with
his warriors。
Joe counted twelve； and noted that they differed from his captors。 He had only
time to see that this difference consisted in the head…dress； and in the color
and quantity of paint on their bodies； when his gaze was attracted and riveted
to the foremost figures。
The first was that of a very tall and stately chief； toward whom Silvertip now
advanced with every show of respect。 In this Indian's commanding stature； in
his reddish…bronze face； stern and powerful； there were readable the
characteristics of a king。 In his deep…set eyes； gleaming from under a
ponderous brow； in his mastiff…like jaw； in every feature of his haughty face
were visible all the high intelligence； the consciousness of past valor； and
the power and authority that denote a great chieftain。
The second figure was equally striking for the remarkable contrast it afforded
to the chief's。 Despite the gaudy garments； the paint； the fringed and beaded
buckskin legginsall the Indian accouterments and garments which bedecked
this person； he would have been known anywhere as a white man。 His skin was
burned to a dark bronze； but it had not the red tinge which characterizes the
Indian。 This white man had； indeed； a strange physiognomy。 The forehead was
narrow and sloped backward from the brow； denoting animal instincts。 The eyes
were close together； yellowish…brown in color； and had a peculiar vibrating
movement； as though they were hung on a pivot； like a compass…needle。 The nose
was long and hooked； and the mouth set in a thin； cruel line。 There was in the
man's aspect an extraordinary combination of ignorance； vanity； cunning and
ferocity。
While the two chiefs held a short consultation； this savage…appearing white
man addressed the brothers。
〃Who're you； an' where you goin'？〃 he asked gruffly； confronting Jim。
〃My name is Downs。 I am a preacher； and was on my way to the Moravian Mission
to preach to the Indians。 You are a white man； will you help us？〃
If Jim expected the information would please his interrogator； he was
mistaken。
〃So you're one of 'em？ Yes； I'll do suthin' fer you when I git back from this
hunt。 I'll cut your heart out； chop it up； an' feed it to the buzzards；〃 he
said fiercely； concluding his threat by striking Jim a cruel blow on the head。
Joe paled deathly white at this cowardly action； and his eyes； as they met the
gaze of the ruffian； contracted with their characteristic steely glow； as if
some powerful force within the depths of his being were at white heat and only
this pale flash came to the surface。
〃You ain't a preacher？〃 questioned the man； meeting something in Joe's glance
that had been absent from Jim's。
Joe made no answer； and regarded que