A STRANGE SCENE. 1 71 



Furthermore, he had reserved to himself the sweet privilege of inflicting all real 

 suffering upon the victim. The others were allowed to prick him smartly, but it 

 was the chief who indulged in a jab, now and then, which forced a cry that the 

 bravest man could not have suppressed. 



" I can't stand that sort of thing/' muttered the Texan, compressing his lips ; 

 " if you would give the poor fellow a show, I would say, ' Let the best man win ;' 

 but for fifteen knaves to bear down on a tenderfoot who has his arms and legs tied, 

 why, it ain't the square thing, and I mean to have something to say about it." 



This characteristic decision was no more than formed by Jack Harvey when 

 the chieftain precipitated the crisis for which the watcher was waiting. 



The prisoner must have suffered a good deal before the single spectator arrived. 

 The grotesque circling and chanting suddenly ceased, and all came to a stand-still. 

 Every eye was fixed on the poor wretch lying partly on his side, awaiting his doom. 

 He did not struggle, except to shrink, in a convulsive way, whenever the cruel spear- 

 points were pressed against his quivering flesh. 



It was manifest that the chief was growing impatient, and had determined to 

 bring the sport to a close, or, at least, to give it a more enjoyable phase. 



All at once the suspicion flashed upon Jack that this was a party of cannibals, 

 and that, after slaying their captive, they would make a feast upon him. There is 

 reason to believe he was correct in his conclusion. 



Standing in front of the prisoner, the rest of the warriors some paces to the 

 rear, the leader of the savages addressed a few sentences to the victim. What 

 they were can only be guessed, but his manner indicated they were in the nature of 

 taunts, another fashion which, as you know, prevails among the American Indians. 



The prisoner did not answer, therein differing from one of the American race in 

 a similar situation, for he would have replied with taunts equally exasperating. 



The address lasted but a minute or two, the victim never once parting his lips, 

 when the chieftain raised his long spear with the intention of giving the finishing 

 touch to the frightful scene. 



