n crept
through the woods, crawling most of the way. At last he was near enough
to see a score of savages sitting about a camp fire. Near by, tied to a
tree was the miserable Virginian. Mr. Waters saw that he had two wounds,
and was no doubt suffering greatly.

His horse had been killed and afforded a feast for the savages, who
evidently had not yet decided the rider's fate. Having feasted until
their stomachs were overgorged, the Indians lay down upon the ground and
fell asleep. Their prisoner was severely wounded and tied with stout
deer-skin thongs, so that it would be utterly impossible for him to
escape, and in the heart of this great wilderness the dusky sons slept
in perfect security.

George Waters crept up closer and closer to the prisoner, and had to
actually crawl between two sleeping savages, to reach him; then he
slowly rose at the feet of Martin, who, unable to sleep for pain, was
the only human being in the camp awake. The prisoner saw him
approaching, saw him draw his knife, and expected to be killed by his
enemy; but he made no outcry. Better be stabbed to the heart by George
Waters than tortured by his fiendish captors.

George Waters cut the deer-skin thongs which bound him to the tree and,
in a whisper, asked:

"Can you walk?"

"No."

"I will carry you."

He took the wounded man on his own broad shoulders, and carefully bore
him from the camp. Not a word was said. Joel Martin's tongue seemed
suddenly to have become paralyzed. George Waters walked slowly,
carefully, and silently. The Indians slept. When they were some distance
from the camp, Martin, entertaining but one idea of Waters' plan, said:

"You have gone far enough with me. Stop right here and have it over
with. I shall make no outcry."

"Joel Martin, you are a brave man, I know,----" began Mr. Waters; but
Martin again interrupted him with:

"I shall make no outcry. You have a knife in your belt. Stab me, and be
done with it."

"I shall not."

"Where are you going to take me?"

"To my horse."

Martin grumbled at the useless delay, but suffered himself to be carried
to the horse.

"Can you ride?" Waters asked.

"Yes."

"I will help you to the saddle, and, if you think there is danger of
your falling, I can tie you."

He assisted the wounded man into the saddle and took the rein in his
hand, saying, "Hold, and I will lead."

"George Waters, where are you going with me?"

"To Virginia."

"Can it be that you intend