The Indians flung over torches and saw his desperate situation—some watched till the light, saw him still hanging there, and foul birds fluttering around and picking at him—knew he was dead and carried the good news to the village.
CHAPTER VII.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
The old Medicine of the Sioux, when he came to reflect upon the manner in which the prisoner had repeatedly untied himself, was mystified, and though he determined to have no rival yet he believed he might learn some things he could turn to account before the white man was put to death by holding out false ideas of safety and life. To that end he had the prisoner brought to his wigwam, and to his great joy he found his chest there and uninjured.
"Is the pale-face a medicine?" asked the red one.
"A little," was the cautious reply.
"And the spirits taught him to untie ropes and set himself free?"
"Yes."
"Do they whisper other things in his ears?"