Whatever it may have been, they traveled rapidly. Passing through a clump of pine trees they chose two hard knots, then hurried on. By the time they came within sight of the island Faye’s clothes were dry. She had donned them again, and might be seen moving about replenishing the fire. Accustomed as they were to accurate observation of living things at a distance, the Indians had no trouble in recognizing her.
At once they lighted their torches. The girl saw, and her heart leaped with joy. Her plight had been discovered. Here was hope.
Noting that the ice fragments that drifted by were growing larger, she endeavored to calculate the possibility of riding one to safety.
“Won’t do,” she told Tico. “Not yet.”
* * * * * * * *
Though Johnny Longbow had seen the light of his good friend’s fire, and she in turn had heard the noise of his battle with the bears, morning was destined to find them once more far apart. To Johnny’s great surprise the hunchback, after replenishing their larder, did not lead the way back to the cabin where they had last slept.
Instead he struck away across the hills. When they had traveled for the greater part of an hour and had come to a barren and rocky dry ravine, he piled a heap of large stones in the form of a rude oven. Beneath this he kindled a fire and roasted meat.
After giving Johnny a liberal supply of bear meat and devouring great quantities himself, he again took up his burden and led away over other hills.
“How is this all to end?” Johnny asked himself. “It doesn’t much matter where we go. I haven’t the slightest notion which direction would lead me to my friends.”
That the hunchback was pleased with him was shown by his actions as they paused now and then to rest. At such times he went through the motions of a charging bear. Opening his mouth wide he acted a pantomime of receiving a mortal wound in the mouth, and falling backward dead. These actions were followed by loud laughter.