"I wonder if he's right?" said Wharton, doubtfully, turning toward his companion.
"Yes, for he's so scared he's sure to play square for a time."
"Very well," said Wharton, looking toward the Indian. "Lead the way; if you go wrong, we shoot, we kill."
"Arqu-wao go right--he go right--he good Shawanoe--broder of Blazing Arrow."
The latter remark was startling to the boys, and they looked inquiringly at each other, wondering what he could mean.
"Begorra, if he's a brother to him, it's a bad ricommindation to himsilf," remarked Larry.
"He may be the flower of the flock, but we will keep sharp watch on him."
The Indian, now that he understood that he had chance for his life, lost most of the fear that had filled him from the moment he was arrested in the very act of committing a crime.
He showed his knowledge of what was said to him by walking, not parallel to the course of the torrent, which the boys had intended to take for their guidance, but diverging at quite a sharp angle from it. Neither of the youths could be satisfied whether this was favorable or not, but there was logic in Larry's theory that their guide was so frightened that he would act honestly, at least for a time.
If he was doing so, he was doing them a great favor, for, instead of walking a number of miles down the gorge, and then returning over the same route, this distance would be saved by "cutting across lots," with the probability of eluding the hostile Shawanoes waiting in ambush. Whether such was the fact or not must be left to future developments.
The sun was now fairly above the horizon, and the day promised to be as clear and sunshiny as the preceding one. The hearty meal, eaten the night before, and the rest, enabled the boys to continue their brisk walk for hours without fatigue. They would have been glad to keep straight on, if it were possible, until they reached the block-house.
When they leaped across a small brook of cold, sparkling water, Wharton called the guide to wait for a minute. He was walking about a rod in advance, glancing sharply to the right and left, and even among the branches of the trees, as though he suspected danger lurking there. He never once looked back while thus engaged until he heard the sharp summons of Wharton. Then he stopped short and turned half way round, and stood like a statue.