CHAPTER IX.
A SUDDEN REPRIEVE.
Preparations were at once made to torture the prisoner. He was led, or pushed, forward directly toward the council-house. A rude post was soon sunk in the ground, and to this he was securely lashed.
Scarred Eagle set his teeth hard, and glanced keenly toward the rocky bluff. He had a good view of it from his perch. He could not believe the rangers were yet gone. They had not had a chance to steal away, even on the supposition that their leader had escaped from the village. They must, therefore, have noticed the arrival of the warriors with their prisoner; if so, he felt assured they would undertake something for the brave Irishman. He saw what they might do; but would they think to undertake it?
As if in answer to his thoughts, he suddenly caught glimpse of two figures gliding along the edge of the woods toward the west. The view was but momentary, but it made his gray eye flash with satisfaction. It was the first sign he had seen, telling that the rangers were on the alert since morning.
“What do now?” said the Indian girl, speaking close to his ear.
She had been watching those below them with fearful interest.
“Nothing yit, girl. But there may be a chance for us to gi’n ’em the slip soon. We must be ready.”
“Too bad—sorry!” she said, glancing through at the howling rabble about Devine. “’Fraid we can no help him. No git away ourselves till dark comes. He be burnt then.”
“The warriors don’t b’l’eve but what the rest on us ar’ well out o’ the region,” explained the other. “But two o’ the chaps ar’ workin’ round an’ I’ve no doubt’ll interrupt this work at the right minit!”
“What? You see ’em?”