In a few minutes they noticed that it began to be lighter ahead, and they were very near the open bluff on which stood the village. Pushing forward, they soon saw the Indians before them, as the latter emerged upon the bluff. As these disappeared, the trailers pressed on; the more hastily, as a sound began to break on their ears, denoting some unusual commotion in the village.
A moment or two later, and they were peering into the camp. The inmates were not only astir, but seemed greatly excited. It was not all caused by the approach of those bearing the dead and wounded, for even as the scouts looked, these last were discovered and greeted with howls of sorrow.
“What kin it mean, Scarred Eagle?”
“Let’s git nearer and see. Thar’s a good chance now.”
They began to glide forward, on hand and knee, directing their course so as to gain the rear of a row of rude huts. Meantime, the excitement among the warriors seemed to increase, and yells, fierce and angry, were mingled with the cries of grief. The two men were about twenty yards from the edge of the woods, when they raised partly up beside a stump, and obtained a better view of the excited throng. To their surprise, they saw that not less than fifty warriors were present, nearly a score of whom were clustered upon the bank of the river, just above the angle formed by the jut.
“Thar!” exclaimed Mace. “The story’s told. Thar’s more o’ the hellions here than we thought, an’ the wust on’t is they’ve suspicted Goodbrand’s party, an’ ar’ watchin’ the rocks!”
“I see!” said Scarred Eagle, uneasily. “It’s an unfortunit thing for all. But, I’ll try ter find the boy if my life pays for the attempt. Seems ter me the Injun gal—ha, look there! It’s her, as I live!”
A number of the Indians were hurrying a captive, who had been in their midst, toward one of the huts. The glow of starlight over the open bluff enabled the lurking men to identify the captive as Moorooine. They knew her by occasionally hearing her name pronounced, coupled with angry maledictions. She was bound hand and foot, and thrust into one of the huts, as though she had been a brute.
“The brave gal’s been catched in tryin’ to do sunthin’ for Brom,” said Rhodan. “He’s in one o’ the huts above, where they’ve put her in, likely. I judge so, ’cos two o’ the imps seem ter be watchin’ it close. No doubt the boy’s well tied; but since his release hez been ondertook, they mean ter make sure on ’im. Thar’s one apiece for us to work for, now, Ben Mace, an’ no hope thet any o’ the rest ’ll git a chance ter help us. Be ye ready?”
“Lead on!”