He had reason for his fear. The slumbers of the savage were light, and, though they had not been interrupted by the flight of Carrie, he roused himself about ten minutes later. He turned slowly around, expecting to see her sitting on the pile of leaves. Discovering that she was gone, he sprang to his feet with a cry of rage and disappointment. He was surprised, for he had supposed that she would be afraid to leave him.
He instantly formed the determination to get her back. Without her his revenge would be incomplete. Besides, it would be mortifying to his pride as a warrior that a little child should escape from him, thus getting the better of him.
He was broad awake now, and his senses were on the alert. With Indian quickness he tracked the footsteps of the little girl to the tree. Thus far it seemed that she had run away without assistance. But at this point he found another trail. He stooped over, and carefully scrutinized the track made by our young hero, and it helped him to a conclusion.
“Boy,” he muttered. “Small foot. Come when Indian sleep. No matter. Me catch him.”
A white man would have obtained no clew to guide him in the pursuit of the fugitives; but the Indian’s practiced skill served him. With his eyes upon the ground, marking here a print, and there a slight pressure on the scattered leaves, he kept on his way, sure of success.{184}
CHAPTER XXV.
JULIUS BECOMES A CAPTIVE.
Julius was still wandering about in uncertainty, holding Carrie by the hand, when the Indian came in sight of him. Stealthily creeping up, he seized our hero by the shoulder before he realized that the enemy was upon him. He had no time to draw his pistol, nor did he deem it prudent to do so now, as the Indian could easily wrest it from him, and turn it against him.
“Me got you!” exclaimed the savage, in accents of fierce exultation.
Little Carrie uttered a dismal cry when she looked up and saw that her dreaded captor was near.
“Don’t be frightened, Carrie,” said Julius, soothingly, though, to tell the truth, he felt rather uncomfortable himself.