"Back with the stone into its place," hoarsely commanded the squaw. "Don't stir from here on peril of your lives. Now to save him or die in the attempt!"
CHAPTER XVI.
TERRIBLE TORTURE.
After a time the scout was removed from the post to which he had been bound, led into a wigwam, and having been fettered securely, was left to himself until the dawning of another day should afford the opportunity for torture.
So noted a hunter and scout as Beaver Tail could not be hurried out of the world. Great éclat must be given to the event—every one of the warriors must be notified—the torture must be of the superlative degree.
But, great was their astonishment when the sun rose again and the wigwam was found to be empty!
Numbers would have sworn that they had been constantly on the watch, and he had not gone forth—that, save the braves and the squaws, no one had been seen—that he must have vanished, even as the mist of morning before the hot sun.
Yet, even while they were discussing what could possibly have become of him, the scout was laughing in the forest, with the Indian girl, at the tumult his flight had caused.
"It was most mighty cute of you, Cloud," he said, "ter think of such a thing, and none but a smart woman like you could have posserbly carried it out, without bein' found out."