to his face.

But the snapping of that little twig had not been unobserved. The
trapper's eyes were open, and his senses wide awake on the instant.
Yet, so tutored was he in the ways and warfare of the wilderness that no
muscle of his huge frame moved, and his eyes were closed again so
quickly that the glance of the savage, sharp though it was, failed to
detect the fact of his having awakened. The busy mind of Big Ben was
active, however, while he lay there. He saw that the savage was armed,
but the knife was not yet raised to strike. He saw, also, that this man
was in his war paint, and knew that others were certainly around him,
perhaps close to his own back, yet he did not dare to look round or to
make the slightest movement. His spirit was on fire with excitement,
but his body lay motionless as if dead, while he rapidly considered what
was to be done. Presently the savage removed a corner of the blanket
which covered Larry's broad chest and then raised his knife. In another
moment the trapper's rifle sent forth its deadly contents, and the
Indian fell across the Irishman in the agonies of death.

Instantly the other sleepers sprang to their feet and seized their arms,
but before they had time to use them they were surrounded by the whole
band of savages, and, amid a hurricane of whoops and yells, were
overpowered and pinioned. Larry, with the fiery zeal of his countrymen,
struggled like a madman, until one of the savages gave him a blow on the
head with the flat of his tomahawk to quiet him, but the others, who
knew that to struggle against overpowering odds would only make matters
worse, at once surrendered.

"It is all over with us now," exclaimed Will Osten, bitterly; "if we had
only had the chance of a good fight beforehand, it would have been some
comfort!"

"When you have lived longer in the wilderness, lad," said Big Ben,
"you'll not give way to despair so easily."

These remarks were made as they sat on the grass while the Indians were
engaged in catching and saddling the horses. Soon after our travellers
were assisted to mount, having their wrists tied behind their backs; and
thus, with armed savages around them, they were led away prisoners--they
knew not whither.

CHAPTER FOUR.

SHOWS THAT THE TABLES ARE TURNED, AND THAT GOOD AND BAD FORTUNE CONTINUE
TO COMMINGLE.

One fortunate circumstance attending the capture of Wandering Will and
his friends was that the Indians happened to fol