“The birds, you mean.”
“Julius,” said Mr. Taylor, grasping the hand of our hero, now released from his uncomfortable situation, “you have earned my heartfelt gratitude. But for you my darling would still be in the power of that miserable Indian.”
“I didn’t do much,” said Julius, modestly. “I only managed to get taken, too.”{194}
“It was the paper which you had the forethought to drop that led us here.”
“Did you find it?” asked Julius, eagerly. “Then it did some good after all. I was afraid it wouldn’t. The Indian saw me dropping bits of paper, and he was sharp enough to know what it meant. He made me pick them up, but I left the paper with writing on it. He didn’t see that.”
“That’s the way I thought it was,” said Mr. Taylor. “I told Abner you were prevented from giving us the clew, as you promised.”
“Well, it’s all right now,” said Julius. “Our copper-colored friend will have to dispense with our company to-night.”
“We must be getting home,” said Mr. Taylor. “Your mother is terribly anxious about you, Carrie. Are you tired?”
“Yes, papa; the Indian made me walk so fast.”
“I will take you in my arms, my poor child. He shan’t get hold of you again.”