Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/362

 He groaned half aloud as his quick eyes caught the form of Bub tied to the tree and then beheld Stanley also a prisoner. Could he have exchanged places with his companions he would have done so gladly, let the price be what it might. As it was he was unarmed, with a deadly enemy dogging his tracks. Although he could not effect the youths’ release he believed the half-breed as yet knew nothing of their capture. This being so it was still possible for him to lead Big Nick far down the river. He did not believe the white men would seriously injure the boys, and once he had succeeded in decoying the half-breed down stream he might find a way to double back and effect their release.

Nor did he forget to figure as a possible asset—even as Bub and Stanley had shrewdly anticipated—a meeting with Noisy Charlie.

“I ain’t even got a jack-knife,” he groaned as he found he had left that important article beside the slab of bacon in camp.

Then fearful of Nick’s arriving and discovering his friends and the two prisoners Abner shook a withered fist at the trio of scoundrels and darted back to meet and divert the half-breed. Impelled by a fear that he had been instrumental in bringing the half-breed and the