the heart of the Indian;
but I shouted out to him to desist, and Long Sam drawing tight the
lasso, the next instant dragged the Indian clear of his frightened
steed, which galloped off leaving him utterly helpless. Springing upon
him, we then secured his arms by some leathern thongs, and removed the
lasso from round his body.

"He is Black Eagle, no doubt about that," cried old Folkard. "What have
you done with the lady you carried off?" he added in the Indian tongue.

The prisoner refused to reply.

"If the chief will tell us what we want to know, he shall live; but, if
not, he must be prepared to die," said Long Sam.

An expression of irresolution passed over the Indian's countenance.

"I would that I could tell the pale-faces where she is to be found, but
she has been taken from me; though, if they will restore me to liberty,
I will endeavour to find her," he said at length.

"If the chief speaks the truth, he will find the palefaces willing to
grant him any favour he may ask," said Long Sam; then, turning to us, he
added, "We must not trust the rascal. Though decked with fine feathers
he has a cowardly heart, I suspect. We'll keep him bound and take him
with us. If he plays us false, knock him on the head without scruple;
that's my advice. We must not let his horse escape, however; wait here
while I catch the animal."

Saying this, Long Sam threw himself into the saddle, and taking his
lasso which he had again coiled up, started off in the direction the
Indian's horse had taken. In a shorter time than I had expected, he
returned leading the animal by the lasso which he had thrown over its
neck, and whenever it became restive, a sudden jerk quickly brought it
again under subjection.

"Of course, it won't do to put the Redskin on his own horse, or he may
be giving us the slip. He shall have mine," said Long Sam, "and old
`Knotty' will stick by us, even if Mr Black Eagle should try and gallop
off."

We now, by means of the three hunters, endeavoured to obtain all the
information we could from our captive.

He acknowledged that he had carried off the palefaced girl, and that he
intended to make her his bride; but that he had been inveigled into the
camp of his people, when she had been taken from him; and that, when he
complained, he had been turned away to seek his own fortunes.

As we had no reason to doubt his word we asked him to guide us to
wherever his people were now encamped, making him pro