a good deal of pluck when, finding himself recovering, he
resolutely swallowed some more of the poisonous weed and soon became so
prostrated that he really believed his last hour was at hand. He was in
great danger, for the nicotine threatened the seat of life, and Otto
lost interest in every thing, feeling that it would be a relief to
perish and end his misery.

This was his condition when the Pawnees formed the opinion that he could
not live more than an hour or two at the most. Accordingly, they covered
him with leaves, laid his hat over his face, and, placing his gun beside
him, went off. The youth lay hovering, as it seemed, between life and
death. While in that condition, he detected a footfall near him. He was
able to turn his head, but could not move his body. He recognized Red
Wolf, who was standing a few steps away, knife in hand. He had returned
to take the scalp of the dying lad, and would have done so, had not Lone
Bear, coming from another direction, interfered. By some argument he led
the other to change his mind, and both walked away.

From that moment reaction set in, and Otto rallied fast. It was
beginning to grow dark, and he was soon shut in by impenetrable gloom.
Fearful that Red Wolf or some one else would steal upon him in the
night, he crept deeper into the wood, where he knew he could not be
found when the sun was not shining.

Although his rugged system rapidly threw off the nicotine poisoning, he
was weak and dizzy. He gained a few hours sleep before morning, but was
awake at the earliest streakings of light and started on his return.

Otto Relstaub's previous experience in the woods now served him well. He
discovered that the war party, instead of continuing westward, were
retrograding and doubling on their own trail. He suspected the true
reason they were prospecting for a new site for their villages. He had
judged from their actions that something of the kind was in their
thoughts.

As the course of the lad lay in the same direction, he wisely chose to
deviate until he was far off their trail, so as to avoid any risk of
them.

Otto's deliverance from captivity was singular indeed, but he was too
wise to consider it complete until certain that such was the case. He
feared that Red Wolf or some of his comrades would return to the spot
where he had been abandoned; and, discovering the trick, instantly
pursue him.

He therefore devoted many hours to elaborate efforts to obliterate his