he game. It seemed very dull amusement to John, but Ree
watched the game with much interest, until Fishing Bird beckoned him
away. And then something took place which made Ree quite certain that
this was the Indian whom he might have killed as they struggled alone in
the forest solitude only the second night previous.

It was a wrestling match which Fishing Bird proposed, and he called to a
strapping young savage and challenged him to undertake to put Ree down.
The brave smiled and stepped up willingly. Ree would have preferred that
such a contest had not been suggested, but as the young Indian looked at
him in a way which seemed to say, "It will not take me long to put you on
your back," he decided to throw the proud young redskin if he could.

With many manifestations of delight the Indians gathered around, as they
quickly learned what was taking place; for there was nothing in which the
forest rovers had a greater delight than trials of strength and
endurance.

Ree stipulated but one thing, as he threw off his coat and made ready,
this was that the wrestling should be "catch-as-catch-can."

Ready assent was given, a space was cleared and an Indian clapped his
hands as a signal for the contest to begin. Like a panther the young
brave sprang toward his sturdy white opponent to catch him "Indian hold."
But he reckoned without knowledge of his man. Ree had not forgotten the
teachings of Peter Piper, and so cleverly did he dodge, and so quickly
seize the Indian about the legs, that in a twinkling the proud buck was
stretched upon the earth.

There were expressions of wonderment from the Indians, but in a second
the vanquished redskin was on his feet, anxious for another trial.

John, with utter disregard of good manners, was laughing heartily over
his friend's success, and as Ree declined to wrestle any more, the Indian
turned to him, and somewhat fiercely demanded that he should try
conclusions with him.

John glanced at Ree and the latter nodded for him to go ahead. In another
minute then, a match, the closeness and desperation of which delighted
the savages beyond measure, was in progress.

Tightly clasping each other's arms, the contestants strained every muscle
and struggled back and forth and round and round--now slowly, now with
movements most rapid, neither gaining an advantage. Longer and longer the
contest continued in this way, and Ree saw that John was becoming worn
out. He must act quickly or succumb