The brothers, as you may well suppose, felt anything but comfortable when they saw they were the objects of the attention that had been turned away for a few minutes.
The warrior who has been referred to as speaking such good English now addressed himself to Will.
"Where be Jack?"
This question was proof, if any was needed, that he understood what had passed between the brothers during the conversation which I have given.
"I parted company with him on the ridge, and haven't seen him since."
"Which way he go?"
Will hesitated before answering. He could not do anything that looked like a betrayal of his friend. If he answered the question truthfully it might give the very information that would result in the capture of the only one of the three that had been able to keep out of the hands of the Indians.
It would have been easy enough to tell an untruth, but the soul of the boy revolted against it. Besides, the falsehood was almost certain to be discovered sooner or later, in which event the penalty would be visited upon him.
"Don't you know," whispered George, "that you spoke of the route Jack took? The Indian knows it himself."
Of course; why was not Will as quick as his brother to see the trap his questioner was setting?