Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/128

114 were doubtless no more amusing than David’s attempts at the Indian, but David thought them so! John took no offense at the other’s laughter, but sometimes smiled  widely himself when his tongue refused to  conform to the demands of an L or an R.  David did not continue too long at the lesson, preferring to memorize a few words  thoroughly rather than to half-learn a great  many. But the sun had lengthened its shadows much and the intense heat of the  early afternoon was gone by the time he dismissed his school. John disappeared amidst the wigwams across the enclosure, and David, setting in mental array the few facts he  had gleaned from his journey of the fort, set  his mind to fashioning a means of escape. But he did not look for success at the first attempt, nor did he win it. The problem was not one to be lightly solved, if at all, and in  any event he must first determine how closely  he was guarded at night.

The village became awake again as the afternoon drew to its end. Hunters departed through the gate, women and children went  to seek berries and fruits, dogs aroused  themselves and prowled for food, large boys  squatted in circles and played their strange