With Boone on the Frontier by Edward Stratemeyer

Joe had often heard of the extreme cruelties of the Indians, and now he was brought face to face with what might be expected of such a black-hearted warrior as Long Knife.

It was not enough that this rascal contemplated burning the young pioneer at the stake, -- the most cruel death devised by the savages, -- but he also calculated to inflict equal if not deeper pain on the youth's mother by making the woman witness the torture of her offspring.

"Long Knife, you are a -- a monster! " cried the boy, when he could find his tongue.

At these words the eyes of the Indian chief gleamed with cruel pleasure.

"The white boy is joyful over the news that Long Knife brings to him," he remarked dryly.

"If you do this thing you will surely suffer for it."

"In what way will Long Knife suffer? The cries of his enemies is sweet music to his ears."

"Daniel Boone and my other friends will hear of this and they will, sooner or later, bring you to justice for it."

"The whites must conquer the red men first, and they have not yet done so."

"They came pretty close to doing it yesterday."

At this Long Knife could no longer suppress his anger over the outcome of that contest. Stepping forward, he hit Joe a savage blow in the mouth.

"The white boy's tongue runs too much," he said, and strode away out of the stockade.

Mrs. Winship and Clara had not heard this conversation, so they knew nothing of what was in store for Joe. Several times he tried to tell them, but each time the words stuck in his throat.

It was awful to think of suffering such a death, but Joe had to think of his mother quite as much as of himself.

"The shock will kill her, too," he told himself. "To see me die by inches will set her crazy."

At last he managed to call Clara Parsons to one side and tell her of what Long Knife had said.

"Oh, Joe, will he really be as wicked as that? " asked the frightened girl, her face growing deadly pale.

"I think he means to keep his word, Clara."

"But -- but -- oh, Joe, it is dreadful! " And she burst into tears.

"I know it, Clara. But if I've got to die I'll do it as bravely as I can. It's mother I am thinking about. You must comfort her all you can."