He rolled hither and thither, drew deep sighs, and took new positions, but it availed nothing.

The events of the past day had driven sleep far from his eyelids, and he soon gave over the effort altogether.

Rising to a sitting position, he scratched his head (which was significant only of abstraction of thought), and gazed meditatively into the smoldering embers.
While seated thus, an idea suddenly came to him which brought him instantly to his feet.

The fact that it had not occurred to the Indians he attributed to their inferior shrewdness and sagacity.

He recalled that the abduction of the young wife took place quite late in the afternoon; and, as she must be an unwilling captive of course, she would know enough to hinder the progress of the man so as to afford her friends a chance to overtake them.