The light in the distance, dimly visible through the mist, slowly faded. The campfire was dying out. Lone-Elk was gone now, no doubt, but which direction had he taken? John hoped he would not go to the clearing and by hanging about there keep Kingdom from setting forth. It would be remarkable if the Seneca could find his way. Moreover, Ree would be leaving the cabin before daylight. Maybe he had started even now.
HE WHEELED AND SENT THE REDSKIN SPRAWLING.
The dawn came just when John bad ceased to look for and momentarily expect it. Indeed, he was quite surprised to notice suddenly that objects near were again visible. He made out nothing clearly, but he could see a few feet in each direction and it was enough. Without hesitation, and almost without stopping to note the way he was taking, he headed instinctively toward the old poplar and without the least trouble reached its shelter not many minutes later.
His nerves still at high tension after the night’s experience, Jerome’s efforts to catch a wink of sleep were quite unavailing. He fell to thinking of the probable results which would have followed his shooting Lone-Elk as the Indian sat beside the campfire. He thought more of the secret lead mine and wondered if the villainous appearing white man and the Seneca were not partners in that enterprise. Surely there was reason to believe such to be the case. What other explanation of the white man’s companionship with the Indian could be presented?
At last, when the daylight had fully come, John fell asleep. He was still dreaming when Ree Kingdom came and the latter, little guessing that he had not been sleeping just as soundly the whole night through, roused him with:
“I declare, old chap, you seem to find this old tree as comfortable as a feather bed!”
“Guess you would, too, Ree, if you’d been watching midnight feasts, and didn’t know but they were cannibal feasts at that, and had been kept up all night.”
With a grin John noticed the surprise his words caused, and a determination he had formed earlier to break the news of his discoveries gently was forgotten. In another minute he had related the substance of his night’s adventure.
“Well, say! I think you did have a busy night!” Ree exclaimed. “We’ve found the mine, John! There’s no two ways about that! If that lead mine is not within a mighty short distance of the camp of those fellows, then I’m no prophet!”