Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/145

Rh So far as the boy could see, the gate was no longer guarded. Looking down the slope toward the belt of forest, his gaze was attracted by a faint column of smoke that  seemed to arise from the meadow beyond the  forest. The garden patches were deserted and the leaves of the tobacco plants hung  limply in the hot sun. To the left they went, making their way between bushes and over  brambles and following no perceptible trail  until the shadow of the woods met them. Keeping at the edge of the trees, the Indian who led proceeded for the better part of a  mile, thus presently losing sight of the village as the curve of the hill intervened. It was hot and sultry and the pace was fast,  and David, being well weighted with clothing in comparison with his companions, was  soon in a fine perspiration.

He wondered greatly where they were taking him and why. He had, however, no fear. If harm was to come to him, it would come in the village, for the Indians would  make a public event of his torture or execution and not conduct either secretly. What seemed the most probable was that the Indian outposts had sent word that his friends  were approaching and that he was being