corn and dried meat. This they shared with Ree,
and though he ate heartily he was thinking of other things. Every time he
looked across the fire he could see the gruesome scalp at the belt of the
chief of the party. Little wonder that he became apprehensive for his
safety. It would not do, however, he thought, to let the Indians see that
he was worried, and he began to whistle. The savages gazed at him in
wonder. Suddenly one young buck arose, stepped over to the boy and struck
him viciously on the cheek.

His temper instantly fired, Ree shot out his feet, bound together though
they were, striking the savage full in the stomach and sending him
headlong, partly into the fire.

As a tremendous howl of rage arose, Ree forgot that he was bound--forgot
that his better plan would have been to keep cool. He sprang up, breaking
the strings of bark which tied him, with seeming ease, and, as the
enraged Indian rushed toward him, he dodged the club the savage
brandished, and landing a tremendous blow on the redman's neck with his
fist, grabbed his rifle from the ground and sped away into the forest and
the darkness.

With terrific yells the Indians took up the pursuit. On and on Ree dashed
among the bushes and over brush and logs, springing wildly aside at times
to save himself from dashing out his brains against a tree--hurrying fast
and faster, he knew not whither, his pursuers crashing after him.

The pursued nearly always has the advantage over the pursuer. Ree found
himself drawing slowly away from the Indians, who made so much noise
themselves they could scarcely hear him, and suddenly halting, he crept
softly away in another direction. Soon the savages went past, pell mell,
certain that the boy was ahead of them, and the sounds of the chase died
away.

Listening intently, to be ready for the slightest alarm, Ree turned to go
back the way he came. It was difficult in the darkness to do this, but he
believed that if he could return to the vicinity of the Indians'
camp-fire he could easily get his bearings and travel without loss of
time in the direction of his friends. The darkness seemed less intense
now that he had become accustomed to it, but he must exercise every care.
To step on a dry stick or to stumble and fall might be fatal--might mean
his capture and death.

Fortune favored the brave lad, for presently the dim light of the
smoldering camp-fire came into view. He paused a moment, then turned
confidently in th