A sudden suspicion occurred to his mind.
Had not Rushing Water separated them for some fell purpose of his own?
Though he did not know it, yet he felt sure that Ruth had purchased their lives, by some promise she had made the savage.
Had she not done so, they would most assuredly have slain them all, as soon as they had them in their power.
That this was the intention of the chief, he knew from what he had heard the Indian girl confess to the Wizard.
Now, instead of taking them to the village, he had separated them from Ruth, but for what purpose?
He had a strong presentiment that they were led away for sacrifice.
The more he thought on the subject the more convinced he was that he was right, and the stronger were the fears he felt for their safety.
For a few minutes he hesitated, unable in his mind to decide what course to pursue.
He wished to follow on, and try and rescue Ruth before she should reach the Indian village; but if he did this he must abandon the others to their fate.