"Don't you beller, Jakie," Lewis bade. "We won't stay with 'em any longer'n we have to. We're Wetzels."
In the morning they were taken over the Ohio River in a canoe. That day they were made to travel twenty miles farther. Like other frontier boys (and like the girls too) they were raised bare-foot; by this time on their hustling journey their feet were cut and bleeding, so to-night the Indians did not tie the two prisoners.
They were foolish Indians; they had little idea of the nerve of white boys, especially these settler boys.
When all was quiet and the Indians were breathing deeply, Lewis sat up. It was bright moonlight, and he could see plainly. He could see Jacob, and the forms of the Indians stretched around. He moved more. Nobody else stirred, not a breath was interrupted. Then, to find out if the Indians were playing 'possum, he stood on his feet.
Not an Indian even so much as turned over. He began to walk about, treading carelessly, to test them out. He was a wise boy; he spent an hour, experimenting, while his heart beat more and more hopefully. He might have stolen off, but of course he had to take Jacob.
Jacob was asleep. Lewis crept to him and touched him and woke him.
"No, we won't. They're asleep. Listen? I know they're asleep. Hurry up."
Jacob was only twelve. Lewis was his bigger brother, whom he admired. So he got up, staring--took long breath, and he holding to Lewis's hand, into the moonlit timber they scooted with never a backward look.
"We can follow our own trail back to the river," said Lewis. "It'll be easy."
"You wait here. I'll get some moccasins."
"No, they won't. We've got to have moccasins."
Lewis scudded for the camp. In a minute he had found moccasins and had brought them. That was better. Now they might travel faster. But Lewis halted again.
"No, Lewis! Let's hurry. We don't want a gun."
"Yes, we do. Maybe we'll have to defend ourselves or kill meat. You wait right here."
Back Lewis scudded, a second time. He was a boy without fear. He brought a gun and ammunition. Then they hastened on. This time they had not gone far before they heard muffled voices behind them. The Indians had wakened and were on their trail.
"No. They'd catch us sure. Our legs are too short. You do as I say, Jakie. When they get near, we'll hide and let 'em pass us. That's the way."