But why were they thus trapped and taken from their friends toward an unknown fate, leaving an overturned canoe behind to give the cruel impression that they had drowned? What was the meaning of it? Why had this man, who now sat slumped in the bow of the leaky canoe, followed Dirk so relentlessly into the wilds?
He puzzled until his head throbbed, but could piece out no answer to those questions. The steady rhythm of the paddle might have lulled him off to a fitful stupor, so weary was he; but the filthy water in the bottom of the canoe slapped him again and again into wakefulness. It seemed as if hours passed before the canoe made a sudden swerve shoreward, and the bottom beneath him scraped on a gravel spit of land.
It was already quite dark. The two lads were bundled out of the canoe and were glad to be relieved from their painful position. Had their captor not untied all their bonds save those holding their hands behind their backs, they would have fallen over when they were first put on their feet; as it was, Dirk was forced to lean against a tree to keep himself erect.
The Indian’s master pulled the gags from their mouths with a warning. “Not a word out of either of you! Not that it would do you any good, at that. You don’t know where you are, but I can tell you it’s miles from anybody that could hear you, or would care what I did to you if you yelled. So be good little kids and follow my half-breed friend Mink. And remember, I still have my gun handy.”
The half-breed, who during this time had been pulling his canoe ashore and hiding it in a pile of brush near by, now silently raised the pack of provisions to his shoulder and began stolidly tramping through the darkness. The driven boys stumbled in his wake, too weary to know or care where the overgrown path might lead. Behind them marched the nameless man, who now and then uttered an oath as he tripped over a root or sank ankle-deep in a forest pool.
After half a mile, the guard dropped so far behind that Dirk ventured a cautious whisper in the direction of his friend; although, since the half-breed looked back from time to time, it was impossible to attempt a flight.
“Where do you think they’re taking us, Brick?”
Brick shook his head hopelessly. “Don’t know—too dark to see. I think we’re on the west side of Moosehorn, but maybe not.”
“I’m sorry I was such a fool as to let them take us so easily. If I’d listened to you——”
“Don’t worry, my lad.” Brick’s voice was somehow cheering. “They won’t hurt you. Me, maybe, but not you.”