CHAPTER TEN. 

PERPLEXITIES--OUR HUNTERS PLAN THEIR ESCAPE--UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION-- THE TABLES TURNED--CRUSOE MOUNTS GUARD--THE ESCAPE. 

Dick Varley sat before the fire ruminating. We do not mean to assert that Dick had been previously eating grass. By no means. For several days past he had been mentally subsisting on the remarkable things that he heard and saw in the Pawnee village, and wondering how he was to get away without being scalped; he was now chewing the cud of this intellectual fare. We therefore repeat emphatically--in case any reader should have presumed to contradict us--that Dick Varley sat before the fire _ruminating_! 

Joe Blunt likewise sat by the fire along with him, ruminating too, and smoking besides. Henri also sat there smoking, and looking a little the worse of his late supper. 

"I don't like the look o' things," said Joe, blowing a whiff of smoke slowly from his lips, and watching it as it ascended into the still air. "That blackguard Mahtawa is determined not to let us off till he gits all our goods, an' if he gits them, he may as well take our scalps too, for we would come poor speed in the prairies without guns, horses, or goods." 

Dick looked at his friend with an expression of concern. "What's to be done?" said he. 

"Ve must escape," answered Henri; but his tone was not a hopeful one, for he knew the danger of their position better than Dick. 

"Ay, we must escape; at least we must try," said Joe; "but I'll make one more effort to smooth over San-it-sa-rish, an' git him to snub that villain Mahtawa."  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who was staring into the flames?
2. Who sat in front of the fire?
3. Who was sitting down facing the fire?
Q2:
1. Where did Dick have an encounter a few days back?
2. What was the site of Dick's moment a couple days back?
3. In what location did Dick experience something recently?
Q3:
1. What was on Dick's mind?
2. What was Dick thinking about?
3. What did Dick have on the brain?
Q4:
1. Who was in Dick's company?
2. Who did Dick have with him?
3. Who was by the fire with Dick?
Q5:
1. What did Dick hope wouldn't happen before he got away?
2. What was Dick wanting to avoid before he left?
3. Before making his get away, what did Dick wish to ensure wouldn't happen?
Q6:
1. What did Dick hope wouldn't happen before he got away?
2. What was Dick wanting to avoid before he left?
3. Before making his get away, what did Dick wish to ensure wouldn't happen?
Q7:
1. Did Joe Blunt have an optimistic outlook?
2. Was Joe Blunt looking on the bright side?
3. Did Joe Blunt figure everything would turn out for the best?
Q8:
1. What was Joe Blunt doing in addition to sitting by the fire?
2. As he sat near the flames, what else was Joe Blunt up to?
3. What did Joe Blunt do as he stared into the fire?
Q9:
1. What is the name of the guard?
2. Which person is serving as a guard?
3. Whose role is it to guard?
Q10:
1. Who thought it best to get away?
2. Who figured the best option was making a run for it?
3. Who was in favor of escaping?
Q11:
1. Who is holding the group captive?
2. Who is preventing the group from getting away?
3. The group is not able to run off because of whom?
Q12:
1. Who thinks Henri is right about getting away?
2. Who seconds Henri's plan to run off?
3. Who thinks Henri has the right idea with respect to running away?
Q13:
1. What will Joe Blunt make one last attempt to do before running off?
2. What is Joe Blunt going to try and do one last time before making a run for it?
3. What will Joe Blunt attempt to do for the last time before he decides to escape?
