Charles ate some broiled venison and went to sleep.
So exhausted was he, that he did not awake until the noise of breaking camp aroused him.
Another white man was in camp. His hands were fastened behind his back and he was tied to a tree. His sallow complexion and angular features were familiar to Charles Stevens. The prisoner was Joel Martin.
"Two of the Indians captured him last night," explained George Waters. "He was prowling about in the woods, and they seized him."
"What are you going to do with him?" Charles asked.
"We will do him no hurt unless we are forced to," said Mr. Waters.
"I trust you will not be forced," said Charles Stevens.
"So I pray; yet we must protect ourselves and those whom we would rescue."
"I see that many more Indians are in camp than were here yesterday."
"Yes."