arch now. Boone not go. Boone stay with us.

[While Black Fish has been speaking the braves and their prisoners line
up for departure. Meantime, from the woods in background other Indians
have joined the group. Those who have captured Boone describe the feat
in dumbshow. The newly arrived Indians bear food, a blanket or so, a
war-drum, pipes, etc.

BOONE
(striving to speak gaily).
A good journey, my lads. I shall be thinking of you.

EDWARD BRYAN
(low: aside, full of commiseration).
You will be here alone!

BOONE
(hurriedly, seeing that Bryan's remark has been overheard by the
Indians).
With my kind brothers! (Quickly, seeing that Black Fish's back is
turned.) March bravely, lads. Remember Boonesborough!

PRITCHARD
(moved).
Your hand, Boone.

BOONE
(clasping Pritchard's hand).
My comrade!

[They look at each other a long moment. Then the line, Indian-guarded,
and led by Hawk Eye, marches out, left.

BLACK FISH
Now we make a great feast. Celebrate.

[They all sit on ground. War-pipe is passed. Gourds with grape wine.
Dried fish. Dried fruits. General hum of excitement and pleasure.
Animated and colorful groups. Boone smokes the war-pipe when it is
passed to him. Drinks and eats freely with the others. Through it all,
now soft, now loud, sounds the drone of the war-drum. Now and again a
young buck yells jubilantly, or ejaculates a shrill "_E-yah!_" of
pleasure. They rise from feasting to dance in a war-circle about the
drum, right. Boone does a few steps with them, and then retreats to
left of stage. More dances. Speeches with short guttural words and
grunts. Waving of tomahawks. Shrill cries. Another circle is formed
about the war-drum. Attention drifts away from Boone. Finally, after a
second dance about the war-drum Eagle's Feather gives a sudden cry of
"_Boone! Boone gone!_" Intense excitement. Cries of rage. General
search as Indians exeunt right and left. One or two lag behind and look
in bushes. Eagle's Feather pulls back swinging moss from hollow tree
and looks within. Then the baffled Indians dart off stage, right. A
moment later Boone enters from left. Looks warily about him, right,
left, and background. Then darts into hollow tree. A moment later the
Indians, headed by Eagle's Feather, enter right, left, and background.
They gesticulate with cries of "_Boonesborough!_" Some urge taking the
way at left, others the way at right. Eagle's Feather is among the
latter. The way at right is ultimate