Clary laughed loudly, and the captain saw that he had committed a blunder.
"I fainted," continued the captain, "and when I came to my senses it was pitch dark and I lay on the ground, bound hand and foot. By the flickering light of a camp-fire I saw the Arikaras sitting around and calmly smoking their pipes. Tu-Sam-Ba was tied to a post, while the Prairie Flower crouched at his feet. I determined to speak to the Indians, and gathering courage, I exclaimed in the English language:
"'Comrades, do you intend to let me starve? Have I done you any wrong?'
"'You are an enemy of our race. You killed the sacred serpent.'
"'Should I have waited then until it had killed me?'
"'You have killed,' exclaimed one redskin, 'and you will be killed in your turn.'
"The chief now claimed my scalp. It was awarded to him. While the redskins were carrying on a war-dance, I again lost consciousness. I did not awake until I felt a hand pressed lightly on my forehead. It was the 'Prairie Flower.'
"'Tu-Sam-Ba is dead,' she softly whispered; 'he was roasted. Arikaras surprised—escaped!'
"She raised me from the ground, and, carrying me in her arms as if I had been a child, she brought me to a glade in the forest.
"'I am hungry,' I said, pointing to my mouth.