The Indians, rejoiced over their success in making a prisoner of the great scout, nevertheless appeared to be fearful lest the man whom they valued so highly should escape. Throughout the journey the prisoners were treated with consideration, although when night came and the halts were made for rest the white men were compelled to sleep within a circle formed by their captors. In this way they were deprived of every possibility of escape. When, however, they had arrived at the old village of Chillicothe, there were a few minutes when Daniel Boone and Peleg and several of their comrades were left together in the wigwam into which they had been thrust. "Peleg," said Daniel Boone in a low voice, "what a mistake our enemies have made." "What do you mean?" inquired Peleg quickly. "If they had taken us to Boonesborough or to Logan's Fort and there had shown us to the settlers they could have demanded almost any price they might choose for our ransom." "Will they not do it yet?" inquired Peleg. "I hardly think so," replied the scout, shaking his head. "The Indians are like children in many ways. When they have been successful, either on the warpath or in the chase, they immediately return to their friends to celebrate their good fortune with them. They are easily elated, and are almost childish in seeking the praise of those whose opinions they value. That is the reason why they have come back to the village with their twenty-eight prisoners." "What will happen to us?" inquired Peleg anxiously. "That no man can say. All that I am sure of is that we must bear whatever comes in the spirit of those who know that it is the best thing that could happen for every one of us." "If they burn us at the stake?" inquired Peleg bitterly. "Yes, even if they burn us at the stake. It will be hard to bear if they do that, but I am not without hope that they will adopt some other course." "They may make us run the gauntlet." "Yes, they may," admitted Boone, "but there is one thing, Peleg, we do not have to do." "What is that, sir?" "We do not have to bear anything before it comes. All that any man can do is to prepare for what may befall him, and then, whatever comes, bear it like a man. But he who worries over his troubles before they arrive is in no condition to bear them after they come." "I know that is your way of thinking," said Peleg, "but I have not learned it yet." "That's the correct word, Peleg." "What word?" inquired the younger scout quickly. "The word 'learned,' No one has it at the beginning of his life. Even Preacher Lythe told us one time that he, like Paul, 'learned' in whatsoever state he was, therewith to be content." "So have you!" said Peleg cordially.