when the pah utah entered the cave he did not appear to notice elwood brandon. the latter attributed this to the semi-darkness in which he stood, and was about to go forward and claim his friendship when something restrained him, and he concluded to wait until the indian first recognized him.
shasta exchanged a few words with his friends, and immediately several of them went out in the darkness. when they returned, which was very speedily, they each bore a goodly bundle of sticks and kindlings. in what part of the wide creation they obtained them, directly after such a deluge of rain, it is impossible to tell, but american indians have a peculiar faculty of doing such odd things.
a few minutes later a blaze sprung out from the center of the bundle placed in the middle of the cave, and when elwood looked downward toward it, he saw that shasta was kneeling before the pile engaged in igniting it. as the flame flared out and illuminated the cave, the pah utah looked up and met the eyes of elwood. for an instant, his black eyes were fixed upon him, and then he placed his finger to his lips and looked down again. the boy understood it all. he didn't know anything of the pah utah.
the fire burned vigorously and soon diffused a genial warmth throughout the cave. it was most grateful indeed to elwood, who approached and subjected himself to a toasting process. the savages offered no objection, and he soon managed to secure a pleasant warmth, and partially to dry his damp clothes.
he could not prevent himself from continually glancing at shasta, but he never once caught his eye, and understanding the indian's wishes, he compensated for this impertinence by staring twice as long at the other hideous visages.
after all the great want of elwood was food. he had fasted for thirty hours, and was faint and feeble. a month before such severe abstinence would have left him unable to stand; but the severe deprivation and hardship of the last week, united with its firm, buoyant constitution, and his freedom from the degrading use of tobacco, had developed a strength and endurance remarkable in one so young. he felt that he could wait until the next day without a mouthful, and still be able to travel; but the fainting, craving, hollow feeling rendered him uncomfortable and caused more than one longing look around the cavern and in the faces of his dusky-hued friends; but if the indians understood his suffering they certainly did not care enough about them to give them heed.
his hope was in the pah utah, but his situation was such as to deprive him of the expression of this hope. shasta had given him to understand in an unmistakable manner that for the present they were to remain strangers; and no matter what his distress might be, he dare not disregard this command.
yet elwood brandon believed, if the indian understood his case, he would find some means to relieve him, slight though it was. finally he decided upon his course of action.
walking up to the tall indian, who had received his previous request in such a threatening manner, and halting when at a safe distance, he motioned to him for something to place in his mouth. the unfeeling fellow scrutinized the boy a moment, and then coolly turned his back upon him, and acted as though the supplication had not been made.
he was equally unsuccessful with the others, and the refusal of shasta was made in a most emphatic manner. glaring at the boy like an enraged tiger, he brandished his knife and sprung toward him with such a curdling yell that the youngster sprung trembling back to the furtherest verge of the cavern, and the eyes of the other indians were all turned toward the expected tragedy. but elwood wasn't frightened—not a bit; he understood what it all meant.
the performance was followed by a conversation between shasta and the tall indian, who doubtless belonged to the pah utah nation or some tribe friendly with them. it's precise import elwood found impossible to determine, but he could not avoid a feeling of uneasiness when he saw by unmistakable signs that it referred to himself.
it looked very much as though shasta was urging immediate disposal of the prisoner, and his friend was strenuously maintaining a different action. the pah utah showed great excitement, very often turning and gesticulating toward elwood, and once or twice he look a step or two in that direction, as if he had resolved on a certain and speedy death for him.
finally, he appeared to yield the point, and turned his back upon his disputant and walked to the fire. as he did so his face was revealed alone to elwood brandon, and looking toward him, the boy again saw him place his finger to his lips and give that warning expression, which said as plainly as words, "don't be frightened; all things are working right!"
this was certainly gratifying, but our young friend was already satisfied upon this point, and would have much preferred a more substantial mark of friendship in the shape of something to supply the craving within. but on the very eve of despair he was delighted to see a couple of indians—whose absence he had noted for the last half-hour—return heavily laden with fish. these were immediately taken in charge, by shasta, and the savor of them as they were cooking drove the famishing boy almost frantic.
while he sat with longing eyes, watching the motions of the cook, one of the fat roasted fellows suddenly shot from his hand and fell into the lap of the boy. the pah utah did not raise his head, and the act looked as if it were a voluntary one upon the part of the fish to escape the hands of its tormentors—so dexterously was the whole thing done.
elwood did not stop to thank his considerate friend, but devoured the food precisely in the fashion that a boy attacks a pile of gingerbread which he has been expecting and longing for during a half-day. when he had finished the fish, another in just as prime condition dropped into his lap, apparently from the top of the cave above.
this satisfied his hunger, and he arose to his feet, casting his eyes toward shasta, and testifying by his looks the gratitude which he dare not express audibly. he remained in the rear of the cavern, patiently waiting the pleasure of the pah utah regarding himself.
the indians completed their meal, and then exchanged a few words, when they prepared to leave. elwood watched them with interest, and when the tall fellow motioned for him to come forward, he did so with alacrity, and took him place in the rear of the line which was formed. glancing back as they were about to start, he saw by the light of the fire that the one immediately behind him was shasta.
the night was utterly dark—above, below and all around. the hand of the pah utah was placed upon his shoulder, as if to guide him aright, and the march began.
of course it was impossible for elwood to tell where he was going, but he followed blindly the direction of him behind for a hundred yards, when he knew by the brushing of his hands against the sides that they were passing through a narrow passage. all at once he felt himself seized by an iron grip from behind, lifted from his feet and tossed into the air. he did not fall back in the path they were traversing, but lit lightly upon a ledge, where he concluded to remain until he heard further from the gentleman who had elevated him to that position.
