He used every effort to give it a trial.

Failing to reach it, he made signs to the squaws around him, nodding with his head, and casting his eyes downward towards his breast.

These, however, did not understand his meaning; and only laughed at what appeared to them a somewhat comic pantomime.
During the continuance of this scene, the Indian men stood apart, conversing together, and evidently deliberating what they should do with their prisoners.

The manner of some of them was angry and excited.
They talked loudly, and gesticulated with violence, occasionally pointing to a spot of level ground in front of the camp.

The captives could see that among these loud talkers was the man whom Basil had wounded, as he carried his arm in a bandage.