“It beats the Jews!” exclaimed Bell. “That dog bears a charmed life. Ain’t he nowheres about, Injun?”
“No.”
“The shock must hev thrown him somewheres. That shock! it cracked every bone in my body. I know what it war now. Somebody dropped fire inter ther Bloodhound’s funnel, an’ blow’d his cave to shivers. But our people—whar war they?”
A groan burst from Swamp Oak’s lips.
“Where is Swamp Oak’s tongueless bride?” he cried, in agony; and when the hunter thought where he left our friends with injunctions to await his return, a cold shiver shot over his frame, and he feared that the future would confirm the horrible belief which had taken possession of his mind.
“Come, Injun,” he said to Swamp Oak, “we’ll go back, now;” and he added, in a lower tone—“go back an’ look fur their bodies!”
CHAPTER XIII.
THE INFERNAL COMPACT.
With Kate Blount, the sturdy old scout and Swamp Oak finally made their way out of that gloomy world, now made doubly horrible by the tremendous explosion which they believed had sent all their friends to their destruction. This belief Doc Bell had to impart to his fair charge, and she was terribly shocked over the thought of her lover’s presumed awful fate.
But they were not to reach the cave, where Blount was left, without trouble. A careful reconnoissance by the old Indian-fighter revealed the presence of nineteen Ojibwas in the woods, right over the exit from the corridor leading from the lake. This compelled the trio to remain under close cover until nightfall should make it safe to travel.