"The brutes."
"You mean brute. The breeds are really not so bad. Two or three of them are what you'd call good fellows and I know they wanted to help me but they didn't dare."
"Not even after he'd gone?"
"Not even after he'd gone. I suspect that they thought he might cut short his trip or get back sooner than they expected and catch them if they did for me what he'd ordered them not to do. Oh, he owns them body and soul all right but, as I said before, I don't know how or why."
"I reckon it's lucky we got there about the time we did," Jack grinned.
"It saved my life for I'd have died before I'd have given in to him. Oh, I know that sounds foolish and I reckon it is, but I'm made that way and can't help it."
By this time they had finished eating and Lucky declared that they had better be on their way. The Indian had not said a word while Mr. Lakewood had been telling his story, but the boys knew that he had not missed a sentence and that he was deeply impressed. Mr. Lakewood asked if they had an extra pair of snow-shoes, declaring that he was strong enough to walk, but neither the boys nor Lucky would listen to it and he finally consented to ride a little longer.
CHAPTER XIV.
HOMEWARD BOUND.
It was about an hour later when, as they were passing through a particularly thick bit of woods, Lucky spoke softly to Bob, who was striding close by his side.