in his pockets, he resolved in his extremity to try its virtue on this
occasion.

"But they're going to burn me first! Oh, Lord!" exclaimed Joe, as he
beheld the savage applying the fire to the splinters near his feet.

"Don't say nor do nothing--jest wait till they come to me," said
Sneak, with great composure. "Do you jess keep your mouth shet--it'll
be a long while a kindling--it won't begin to burn your legs for an
hour."

"Oh, goodness gracious! My knees begin to feel warm now. Oh, pray have
mercy on me, good Mr. Osage!" cried Joe, before the flame was as large
as his hand, and yet full three feet distant from him. The greater
portion of the fagots being green, the fire made very slow progress,
and it was necessary for the savages to procure a constant supply of
dry splinters to prevent it from going out.

At length, after the combustible material had burned out, and been
replenished several times, the more substantial billets of Joe's pile
began to ignite slowly, and the old Indian then took up a flaming
brand and moved towards Sneak.

"Come on! you snarvilerous rattlesnake you, I'll show you sights
presently!" said Sneak.

"You brave fellow--me burn you _quick_," said the savage, applying the
torch, and, stooping down, placed his face within a few inches of the
crackling blaze, and began to blow it gently. Sneak twisted his head
round the tree as far as possible, and the next moment the powder
exploded, throwing down the pile of wood, and dashing the savage
several paces distant violently on the ground, and blackening and
scorching his face and hair in a terrible manner. The other Indians
instantly prostrated themselves on their faces, and uttered the most
doleful lamentations. Thus they remained a few minutes, evidently
impressed with the belief that the Great Spirit had interfered to
prevent the destruction of the prisoners. Hastily gathering up their
arms, they fled precipitately in the direction of their distant home,
and their yells of disappointment and defeat rang in the ears of their
captives until they died away in the distance.

"Sneak! make haste! they may come back again!" said Joe.

"They've tied my feet so tight I'm afraid I can't undo it in a hurry,"
replied Sneak, endeavouring to break the cord by thrusting a stick
(that he had slipped from the pile to knock out the brains of one of
the Indians should his gun-powder plot not succeed,) between it and
the tree, and forcing it out until the