Adrift in the Wilds

ves that there was but a single person near it, an old Indian who sat

e to the statement that Tim had made on first seein

ed Elwood. "For that is getting

n't appear

ll I takes a look around," said Tim,

ooping down and bending his head first to one side and then to the other, and raising and arching his nec

ry carefully and silently, and the three men then stood where the light of the fire shone full in their face

d Tim, "and shall I yill, or hit h

ns is very light, and if you just speak or make

arms hanging listlessly over his knees, and his head sunk so low that his features could not be seen. Instead of the defiant scalp-lock drooping from his crown, his hair w

ntleman, are yo

m had had some experience with these people when a miner, and he now began making signs to the savage, who seemed on the point of springing up and

ld good will toward the stranger. The boys judged it best to imitate their comrade; and after standing a few moments, the three walked

!" said Tim, who, although his words were of such dire porte

bent, and his limbs tottered as if scarcely able to bear his weight; but his eye was as kee

by the latter, who, after some tottering hesitation, raised his right hand from the knife and returned the pressure. Dropping it, he loo

said Elwood; "I am beginning to

same do? He hasn't

d what will support such an old ma

fearful to contemplate; then he snapped his teeth together like a dog that has failed to catch a piece of m

or his own benefit-and which, therefore, it is not necessary to give, if we could, and we c

at mean?" inq

ey did not follow, pa

ation," said Tim;

e will he

can I

anger," admonished th

starving, and for me getting a shmoke out of a pipe, wh

The boys could not avoid some alarm and misgiving in thus following blindly an Indian whom they had not seen until a few minutes before,

s dimensions being about twenty feet in every direction. The savage paused but a moment when he shoved a large skin aside, entered and held it open for his friends to do the same. T

e gender, unquestionably the partner of the master of the lodge. A few words were exchanged between the two, when the squaw busied herself in preparing a meal, while her husband stirred the fire into a cheerful blaze t

d rendering our friends half frantic in their starving condition. It was quickly cooked; the Indian severed it into four equal portions

r life. The pieces were of a generous size, and after all three had gormandized themselves until, absolutely, they could contain no more, each had some left. This,