“Let not the pale-face whine like a licked cur,” he said. “If the chief hears more, the coward shall have a knife in his heart.”
Peleg thought it best to keep quiet, though he was half tempted to ask him how he would trade the knife he held in his hand for one that he carried in his pack. But the moonlight was shining upon the face of the savage and he saw a look in his eye which told him that it would require but little to make him put his threat into execution.
None of them had been spared the bonds. Even Mrs. Wilson and Ruth were secured the same as their male friends, though perhaps their bonds were a little softer and not drawn quite so tightly. Evidently Rushing Water did not mean that any of his captives should escape him through any fault of his.
In less than half an hour, those who had gone in pursuit of the scout, returned. As their chief expected they came empty-handed. None of them were fleet enough to overtake the Death-Dealer. They had tried that game with him before and had always failed. There was not a savage on the river who could keep pace with him when he done his best.
It was now near daylight. A little longer and the short summer night would be gone and the East would grow gray with the coming morn.
The night had been one of toil and excitement to both parties and they felt the need of rest. But Rushing Water decided that they could not have it here. No time should be lost in getting away from the neighborhood of the settlements, where danger might be apprehended should the whites get a clue to what had been going on that night. Once at the Indian village in the stronghold of his tribe he would defy any force that might be sent against him.
Therefore he gave orders for them to start at once, and closely surrounding their prisoners so that there might be no loophole of escape, they set forth upon the long, wearisome way that lay before them.
Rushing Water walked by the side of Ruth and her mother. He did not mean to leave sight of her who had cost him so much trouble.
To the great delight of Peleg, he was made to carry his own pack. One of the savages tried it but found it too heavy for his comfort. But the Yankee would have borne double its weight rather than to have been separated from it.