was
drowned by the yells of the squaws and children, who leaped and danced
over the ground, evidently delighted with the prospect of the horrid
spectacle they were about to witness.

Fortunately Basil was selected as the first victim. His superior size
and age, no doubt, obtained him that preference. He was rudely seized
by a pair of Indians and dragged up to the stake, where the savages
commenced stripping him--by way of making a better mark of his naked
body!

As soon as they had loosened his arms and pulled off his hunting-shirt,
the embroidered pouch attracted their attention. One of them seized it,
and drew forth its contents--which proved to be _a pipe-head of the red
clay-stone_--the celebrated steatite. As soon as the savage set his
eyes upon it, he uttered a strange exclamation, and handed it to his
companion. The latter took it into his hands, uttered a similar
ejaculation, and carrying it with him, ran back to the crowd. These, as
soon as it reached them, could be seen passing it from hand to hand,
each examining it minutely, and making some remark; but one Indian, more
than the rest, seemed to be excited upon beholding it; and this one,
after he had gazed upon it for a moment, ran hurriedly towards Basil,
followed by all the others!

This was the opportunity which Basil wished for; and as the Indian stood
in front of him, and pointed to the pipe, as if waiting for an
explanation, the boy, his hands being now free, deliberately and with
coolness made several signs which had been taught him by his father.
These signs were at once understood by the Indian, who sprang forward,
pulled off the cords that bound Basil's ankles, raised him to his feet,
embracing him as he did so with friendly exclamations! All the other
Indians now pressed forward, and grasped him by the hand, while some ran
to Lucien and Francois, who, in a few moments, were likewise set free!

All three were now carried to one of the tents; dry clothes were put
upon them, and as soon as it could be got ready, a feast was set before
them: so that their captors, who but the moment before were about to put
them one by one to a most cruel death, now seemed to strive with each
other which should honour them the most! The Indian, however, who had
shown so much interest at seeing the mysterious pipe-head, was allowed
to take precedence in waiting upon them; and it was into his tent that
our adventurers had been carried.

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