"Oh, shut up, you maw-mouthed imp, and go on with your concert!"
The Sioux chief took Jehiel at his word, and ordered the prisoner to be bound to the stake, and almost before Jehiel knew what he was about, the brush and dry wood were piled nearly to his chin.
When this was accomplished the chief said to him:
"When the sun shows his face above the trees, let the pale-face squaw burn!" and the scout sung:
"Walk along, John, don't stay long,
Hurry right home to your own chickabiddy—"
and calmly awaited the torture.
And that was what Kelly saw from his perch in the tree, upon the opposite bank of the stream.
"That will never do!" he exclaimed; "I must hurry up, or they will roast Jehiel, in spite of fate."
Descending the tree he mounted his horse and started for the scene of torture.