“I will. Oh, me and him are purty good friends now. Gee-whoa-haw,” continued he, taking hold of the string behind, and endeavouring to drive the silent captive like an ox. The young chief whirled round indignantly, and with such force as to send Sneak sprawling several paces to one side. He rose amid the laughter that ensued, and remembering the words of Boone, conducted his prisoner away in a more respectful manner.
“Where’s Joe?” at length inquired Glenn, seeing that he alone was missing.
“Oh! I’m afraid he’s dead,” said Mary.
“If he is, I shall mourn his loss many a day,” said Glenn; “for with all his defects, I would not be without him for the world.”
“Give yourself no uneasiness,” said Boone; “for he is as well at this moment as you or I.”
“I hope so,” said Glenn; “but I have not seen him since we first fired at the Indians.”
“Let us repair to that spot, and there we will find him, for I saw him fall down when he discharged his musket. I venture to say he has not moved an inch since.”
The party repaired to the place mentioned, and there they found him, sure enough, lying quite still on his face beside the Indian that Sneak had killed.
“He is dead!” said Glenn, after calling to him and receiving no answer.
“We’ll soon see,” said Boone, turning him over on his back. “I will open a vein in his arm.”