attacks a pile of gingerbread
which he has been expecting and longing for during a half-day. When he
had finished the fish, another in just as prime condition dropped into
his lap, apparently from the top of the cave above.

This satisfied his hunger, and he arose to his feet, casting his eyes
toward Shasta, and testifying by his looks the gratitude which he dare
not express audibly. He remained in the rear of the cavern, patiently
waiting the pleasure of the Pah Utah regarding himself.

The Indians completed their meal, and then exchanged a few words, when
they prepared to leave. Elwood watched them with interest, and when the
tall fellow motioned for him to come forward, he did so with alacrity,
and took him place in the rear of the line which was formed. Glancing
back as they were about to start, he saw by the light of the fire that
the one immediately behind him was Shasta.

The night was utterly dark--above, below and all around. The hand of the
Pah Utah was placed upon his shoulder, as if to guide him aright, and
the march began.

Of course it was impossible for Elwood to tell where he was going, but
he followed blindly the direction of him behind for a hundred yards,
when he knew by the brushing of his hands against the sides that they
were passing through a narrow passage. All at once he felt himself
seized by an iron grip from behind, lifted from his feet and tossed into
the air. He did not fall back in the path they were traversing, but lit
lightly upon a ledge, where he concluded to remain until he heard
further from the gentleman who had elevated him to that position.

CHAPTER XLVI.

WHAT SHASTA DID.

The night was still, and the regular tramp of the Indians sounded like
the march of a file of soldiers, as they passed over the grass-covered
earth. Elwood listened, hardly daring to breathe, as the tread grew
fainter, fainter, fainter still, then died out; then was revived by a
sigh of the night air, and all was still.

The boy raised his eyes and looked upward. Through the dark clouds
drifting tumultuously across the sky he detected the glimmer of a star
or two, and in that moment of deep solemnity a passage of the Holy Bible
came to him.

"They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no
city to dwell in."

"Hungry and thirsty, their souls fainted in them."

"When they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered
them out of their distr