Meanwhile a big, coarse looking white woman was busy putting food on a table.
A fairly good meal was spread, and Ed was told to eat.
By this time, as may well be imagined, the boy's prejudices had been overcome, and he demolished the food in short order.
Twice he asked about Pow Chow, and once what they intended to do with him, but no attention whatever was paid to his questions.
The meal over, one of the Chinamen offered him a cigar.
Ed had learned to smoke.
The cigar looked good to him, and he lit it, thinking that if he made himself sociable good might come of it.
It was just the reverse.
The cigar was drugged beyond all question.
Ed did not discover this until he had smoked fully half of it.