He was an ill-favoured, ferocious-looking savage; and the boys, although they knew not a word that was uttered, could tell by his manner that he was speaking against them.

To their consternation, they at length saw that he and his party had carried their point, and all the others appeared to acquiesce.

What could their decision have been?
Were they going to murder them?
Agonised with these terrible apprehensions, the boys watched every action of the Indians with the keenest solicitude.
All at once each one of the savages was seen to arm himself with a bow; while two of their number, carrying a large stake, proceeded out into the open ground, and planted it firmly in the earth.

O God! the horrid truth now became clear.

It was their intention to tie their prisoners to the stake, and use them as a target for their arrows! The boys had heard that this was a common custom among Indians with their captives; and each of them uttered a cry of terror, as they recognised the fearful preparations.
They had but little time to shout to each other; and what they said was drowned by the yells of the squaws and children, who leaped and danced over the ground, evidently delighted with the prospect of the horrid spectacle they were about to witness.
Fortunately Basil was selected as the first victim.