that you
have got off. At all events, the Indians will not put their prisoners
to death till they get back to their lodges, and we must try and set
them at liberty before then. Though they have vowed to have my hair, I
fear them not, for I have outwitted them a hundred times--and intend to
outwit them as many more, if I have the chance. But we must not delay
here, for when they find that you have got away they will suspect that
you took to the river, and will scour the banks in search of you."

Anxious as I was to save my friends, I had no wish again to fall into
the hands of the Indians, I therefore very readily mounted one of the
horses.

"If you, Samson, will go on to the cave with this young man, I will
return and try to help the others," said Sandy. "Maybe, while the
Indians are looking for me, they may leave them unguarded, and I may
have a chance of carrying out my object."

"That's what we'll do, then," answered old Samson. "I needn't tell you
to be cautious, because I know that you will be so."

As he spoke, Samson threw himself on one of the horses, and took the
rein of the third. "We shall better deceive the Redskins if we take
this one with us," he observed. "They may possibly discover that it has
no rider; but it will puzzle them, at all events, if they come upon our
trail, and they will be less likely to suspect that you are watching
them."

"Don't fear for me," answered Sandy. "I'll keep my wits about me; and
if the other two can make good use of their legs, we will overtake you
before long, should I manage to set them free. If I am caught, why, I
shall only suffer the fate I have often thought would be my lot."

Saying this, Sandy again plunged into the wood out of which we had come;
while Samson and I galloped away across the country. It was too dark to
discern objects at any distance, but my companion seemed to be
thoroughly acquainted with the ground. At last I saw before me a hill,
rising out of the plain. As I got nearer, I observed that the sides and
summit in many places were covered with trees; in others, it was barren
and rocky. We directed our course towards a gap in the hillside, up
which we wound our way.

"Can you walk?" asked old Samson.

"I will try," I answered, imitating his example and dismounting--when I
soon found that I could get on better than I should have supposed
possible.

He led two of the horses, while I followed with the third; but, passing
amid the t