Page:Edward Ellis--Seth Jones.djvu/77

74 captors preserving, singularly enough, a far more vigilant watch over her than over Seth Jones; but, for that matter, the latter was allowed no very special freedom. A couple of Indians again took the back-trail for prudent reasons, but met with nothing to excite their apprehensions.

In the mean time, Seth continued tumbling over the ground, occasionally giving vent to snatches of song, and now and then a sage remark. Without being noticed, he picked a small chalky pebble from the margin of the brook, and working his way to a large flat stone, executed, with many flourishes, the writing to which we referred in a preceding chapter. Although cleverly done, this latter act did not escape the eyes of the suspicious savages. One immediately arose, and walking to him, pointed down and gruffly asked:

"What, that?"

"Read it fur yourself," replied Seth innocently.

"What, that?" repeated the savage, menacingly.

"A little flourishing I was executing, jist to pass away time."

"Ugh!" grunted the Indian, and dipping his big foot in the brook, he irreverently swept it across the stone, completely wiping out Seth's beautiful chirography.

"Much obliged," said the latter, "saved me the trouble. I can write on it again when it gits dry."

But no opportunity was given, as a moment after the scouts returned, and the line of march was taken up. But Seth well knew he had accomplished all that could be desired. He had taken particular pains that the pebble should be flinty enough to scratch into the soft stone every word that he wrote. Consequently, the party had not been gone a half-hour, when every letter came out as clear and distinct as before, despite the wet daub the indignant savage had given it.

Their progress for a time was quite rapid. Seth, somehow or other, was constantly pitching out of file, breaking down the twigs along the way, stumbling against the stones which were not in the way, and, in spite of the menaces and occasional blows of his captors, making the trail unnecessarily distinct and plain.

At noon, another halt was made, and all partook of some food. Ina was sick at heart, and ate but a mouthful. An