about to
fall into their hands, and this poignard in my hand was our only chance,
what would you say?"

"I would say, strike, father, and let us die together!"

"Yes, yes," cried the Canadian, looking with indescribable tenderness at
him who called him father, "it will be one means of never being
separated." And he held out to Fabian his hand trembling with emotion,
which the latter kissed respectfully.

"Now," said Bois-Rose, "whatever happens we shall not be separated. God
will do the rest, and we shall try to save this unlucky man."

"To work then!" said Fabian.

"Not yet, my child; let us see what these red demons are about to do."

Meanwhile the Indians had ranged themselves in two lines, and the white
man was placed a little in advance of them.

"I see what they are going to do," said Bois-Rose, "they are going to
try if the poor wretch's legs are better than his arms. They are about
to chase him."

"How so?" said Fabian.

"They will place their captive a little in advance, then at a given
signal he will run. Then all the Indians will run after him, lance and
hatchet in hand. If the white is quick enough to reach the river before
them, we will call to him to swim to us. Some shots will protect him,
and he may reach here safe and sound. But if terror paralyses his
limbs, as it did his hands just now, the foremost Indian will break his
head with a blow from a hatchet. In any case we shall do our best."

At this moment the five other Indians returned armed from head to foot,
and now joined the rest. Fabian looked with profound compassion at the
unlucky white man, who with haggard eye, and features distorted by
terror, waited in horrible anguish until the signal was given. But the
Blackbird pointed to the bare feet of his warriors, and then to the
leather buskins which protected the feet of the white man. They then
saw the latter sit down and take them off slowly, as if to gain a few
seconds.

"The demons!" cried Fabian.

"Hush!" said Bois-Rose, "do not by discovering yourself destroy the last
chance of life for the poor wretch!"

Fabian shut his eyes so as not to witness the horrible scene about to
take place. At length the white man rose to his feet, and the Indians
stood devouring him with their looks, until the Blackbird clapped his
hands together, and then the howlings which followed could only be
compared to those of a troop of jaguars in pursuit of a deer. The
unlucky captive ran w