They therefore called upon the chief and explained to him by signs, eked out with a few words, that they must leave him and go towards the setting sun.
The grief of the chief was great, as was that of the tribe, when he communicated the tidings to them.

There was great talking among the groups round the fire that night, and Ned saw that some question was being debated, at great length.

The next morning the chief and several of the leading men came into their hut, and the chief made a speech, accompanied with great gesticulation.

The lads gathered that he was imploring them not to leave them, and pointing out that there would be hostile Indians on the road, who would attack them.
Then the chief led them to the fires, and signed that if they went out the tribe would be cold again, and would be unable to cook their food.
Already, indeed, on one occasion after a great feast, the tribe had slept so soundly that all the fires were out before morning, and Ned had been obliged to have recourse to his flint and steel.

After this, two fires had been kept constantly burning, night and day.
Others were lighted for cooking, but these were tended constantly, and Ned saw that there was little chance of their ever going out together, so long as the tribe remained in the village.
Now, however, he proceeded to show them how to carry fire with them.