ctor's little camp went uneasily about their various tasks, ending by
dividing the night into watches, lest their savage neighbours should
take it into their heads to depart suddenly with the white man's
horses--a favourite practice with Indians, and one that in this case
would have been destructive of the expedition.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

ANOTHER ALARM.

To the surprise and satisfaction of Bart, all was well in the camp at
daybreak when he looked round; the horses were grazing contentedly at
the end of their tether ropes, and the Indians were just stirring, and
raking together the fire that had been smouldering all the night.

Breakfast was prepared, and they were about to partake thereof, when the
Doctor took counsel with Joses as to what was best to be done.

"Do you think they will molest us now?" he asked.

"No, master, I don't think so, but there's no knowing how to take an
Indian. I should be very careful about the horses though, for a good
horse is more than an Indian can resist."

"I have thought the same; and it seems to me that we had better stay
here until this party has gone, for I don't want them to be following us
from place to place."

"There's a band of 'em somewhere not far away," said Joses, "depend upon
it, so p'r'aps it will be best to wait till we see which way they go,
and then go totherwise."

Soon after breakfast the chief came up to the waggon and held out his
arm to be examined, smiling gravely, and looking his satisfaction, as it
was very plain that a great deal of the swelling had subsided.

This went on for some days, during which the Indians seemed perfectly
content with their quarters, they having found a better supply of water;
and to show their friendliness, they made foraging expeditions, and
brought in game which they shared in a very liberal way.

This was all very well, but still it was not pleasant to have them as
neighbours, and several times over the Doctor made up his mind to start
and continue his expedition, and this he would have done but for the
fact of his being sure that their savage friends, for this they now
seemed to be, would follow them.

At the end of ten days the chief's arm had wonderfully altered, and with
it his whole demeanour, the healthy, active life he led conducing
largely towards the cure. But he was always quiet and reserved, making
no advances, and always keeping aloof with his watchful little band.

"We are wasting time horribly," said th