gh his
assumed stoicism and shout at the warrior, but he checked
himself, and with a great effort took control again of his
wandering nerves.

He knew now that the warrior was real, and that he must have
moved some time or other, but he did not find rest of spirit. A
shaft of sunshine by and by entered the narrow door of the lodge
and fell across Dick himself. He knew that it must be a fair
day, but he was sorry for it. The sun ought not to shine when he
was at such a pass.

Another interminable period passed, and an old squaw entered with
a bowl of wa-nsa, and behind her came Lone Wolf, who unbound
Dick.

"What's up now, Mr. Lone Wolf?" asked Dick with an attempt at
levity. "Is it a fight or a foot race?"

"Eat," replied Lone Wolf sententiously, pointing of the bowl
wa-nsa. "You will need your strength."

Dick's heart fell at these words despite all his self-command.
"My time's come," he thought. He tried to eat--in fact, he
forced himself to eat--that Lone Wolf might not think that he
quailed, and when he had eaten as much as his honor seemed to
demand he stretched his muscles and said to Lone Wolf, with a
good attempt at indifference:

"Lead on, my wolfish friend. I don't know what kind of a welcome
mine is going to be, but I suppose it is just as well to find out
now."

The face of Lone Wolf did not relax. He seemed to have a full
appreciation of what was to come and no time for idle jests. He
merely pointed to the doorway, and Dick stepped into the
sunshine. Lying so long in the dusky lodge, he was dazzled at
first by the brilliancy of the day, but when his sight grew
stronger he beheld a multitude about him. The women and
children began to chatter, but the warriors were silent. Dick
saw that he was the center of interest, and was quite sure that he
was looking upon his last sun. "O Lord, let me die bravely!" was
his silent prayer.

He resolved to imitate as nearly as he could the bearing of an
Indian warrior in his position, and made no resistance as Lone
Wolf led him on, with the great thong following. He glanced
around once for Bright Sun, but did not see him. The fierce
chief whom they called Ite-Moga' Ju (Rain-in-the-Face) seemed to
be in charge of Dick's fate, and he directed the proceedings.

But stoicism could not prevail entirely, and Dick looked about
him again. He saw the yellow waters of the river with the
sunlight playing upon them; the great village stretching away on