nce of
being occasioned by sullenness and apathy. He did not tremble in the
least, but gazed unflinchingly at the tomahawks, as they came revolving
and seemingly directed toward his head, and struck beside him.

Finding that they had about lost their power over their captives, the
Indians released Zeb, and permitted him and his master to lie down upon
the ground.

Leland could not prevent his gaze from wandering toward Kent now and
then, yet their eyes did not meet. The latter betrayed no interest
whatever in either of the captives, and seemed as indifferent to their
fate as any of the others.

The negro had no suspicion of the true state of things, and perhaps it
was best that he had not. He might have unwittingly betrayed it, and
Kent did not choose to warn him. The fact was, it could have done him
but little good at any rate; for Kent had determined to rescue Leland,
if possible, and leave Zeb for the present to shift for himself. The
white _man_ was the first upon whom they would wreak their vengeance,
and aside from the greater estimation in which his life was held, from
the very nature of the case, he required the first attention.

CHAPTER XII.

ESCAPE.

The hunter in the course of the day had gained a full knowledge of the
intentions of the Indians in regard to their captives. Leland was to
suffer death at the stake at an early period, while the negro was to be
reserved until some indefinite time in the future, to be tortured.

The hunter had completely succeeded in disarming his enemies of every
suspicion. He had employed himself, as we have seen, in throwing his
tomahawk at Leland; and learning through a casual remark that he was to
be put to the torture, he expressed his opinion strongly in favor of it,
urging them at the same time to do it as soon as possible. He made
himself perfectly at home, and was so free among them, that a stranger
would have considered him one of the leading characters.

So perfectly had Kent dissembled, that at night, unexpectedly to
himself, he was chosen as one to watch Leland. The negro was firmly
fastened to a tree and left to himself, while George was to sleep
between two savages.

At supper-time Kent brought him a good-sized piece of well-cooked meat,
and gave him to understand that he was to eat it at all events. Leland
took it without daring to meet his benefactor's eye, and ate all that
was possible. The negro received his meal from the same hand without th