Thank God, there is no more doubt,
and thank Him, too, that Ethel has at least one friend near her."
All was now joy and congratulation, and Hubert rubbed his hands,
and said triumphantly, "There, Charley, you were always chaffing
me, and wanting to know what was the good of my collection, and now
you see what was the good. It has put us on the right trail for
Ethel, and you will never be able to laugh at me about my
collection again."
CHAPTER XVI.
AT THE STAKE.
It was on the evening of the fifth day after her capture by the
Indians that Ethel Hardy rode into a wide valley in the heart of
the mountains. It was entered by a narrow gorge, through which ran
a stream. Beyond this the hill receded, forming a nearly circular
basin a mile in diameter, from the sides of which the rocks
ascended almost perpendicularly, so that the only means of entering
it was through the gorge. Clumps of trees were scattered everywhere
about, and nearly in the center stood a large Indian village,
numbering about three hundred lodges, the population of which,
consisting almost entirely of women and children, came out with
shrill cries of welcome to meet the returning band. This was two
hundred strong. Before them they drove about four hundred cattle
and fifteen hundred sheep.
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