“I think we have been successful,” Dick informed him.
“How many men?”
“The leader said four.”
“And will they look after Lamont?”
“Yes, they gave us their promise. I think we’d better take him over there right away and pitch our tents. Might as well be there as here. Saves running back and forth, and besides, we promised the Indians a small quantity of provisions.”
The remainder of the day passed quickly. A place was made for Lamont, and Dr. Brady succeeded in extracting the bullet and washed and dressed the wound. The guide had recovered consciousness by this time and lay staring up at the brown walls of the tepee with dark malevolent eyes.
When morning came, the boys rose early and went over to the leader’s tepee, pleased when they found him and his household already awake.
“Are your young men ready?” asked Toma. “We wish to start.”
For some inexplicable reason, during the night the Indian’s manner had cooled. He received them with little of his former cordiality.
“Are your young men ready?” persisted Toma.