“Almighty Heavens! what did that mean?”
It was Doc Bell who spoke.
“Ten thousand earthquakes must have combined in one big bu’st; an’ it war a big one, too. Kate!”
He shook the girl, who still lay in his arms, and heard her voice.
“Yer alive, thank God!” he ejaculated, with fervor. “Warn’t thet a noise? Whar’s Swamp Oak?”
“Here, hunter; his head is full of sounds yet. A hundred rivers rush through his brain.”
“I should reckon they do. Did ye finish ther yaller dog?”
“Swamp Oak’s knife was raised when Watchemenetoc spoke, and snatched him from the Peoria.”
“What! did he git away erg’in?”
“He is gone, white hunter.”