savages emerged from the wood, and a few minutes more brought them
around the log. Now certain of their prey, they wished to make him
suffer a long moral agony, and they feigned not to know where he was.

"He has leaped over," said one; "it was the full jump of a panther.
Shall we return, or encamp here?"

The Indians agreed to repose for a short time; and then began a
conversation. One protested, if he could ever get Overton, he would make
him eat his own bowels. Another spoke of red-hot irons and of creeping
flesh. No torture was left unsaid, and horrible must have been the
position of the wretched Overton.

"His scalp is worth a hundred dollars," said one.

"We will get it some day," answered another. "But since we are here, we
had better camp and make a fire; there is a log."

Overton now perceived that he was lost. From under the log he cast a
glance around him: there stood the grim warriors, bow in hand, and ready
to kill him at his first movement. He understood that the savages had
been cruelly playing with him, and enjoying his state of horrible
suspense. Though a scoundrel, Overton was brave, and had too much of the
red blood within him not to wish to disappoint his foes--he resolved to
allow himself to be burnt, and thus frustrate the anticipated pleasure
of his cruel persecutors. To die game to the last is an Indian's glory,
and under the most excruciating tortures, few savages will ever give way
to their bodily sufferings.

Leaves and dried sticks soon surrounded and covered the log--fire was
applied, and the barbarians watched in silence. But Overton had reckoned
too much upon his fortitude. His blood, after all, was but half Indian,
and when the flames caught his clothes he could bear no more. He burst
out from under the fire, and ran twice round within the circle of his
tormentors. They were still as the grave, not a weapon was aimed at him,
when, of a sudden, with all the energy of despair, Overton sprang
through the circle and took the fearful leap across the chasm.
Incredible as it may appear, he cleared it by more than two feet; a cry
of admiration burst from the savages; but Overton was exhausted, and he
fell slowly backwards. They crouched upon their breasts to look
down--for the depth was so awful as to giddy the brain--and saw their
victim, his clothes still in flames, rolling down from rock to rock till
all was darkness.

Had he kept his footing on the other side of the chasm, he would hav