There was not time, perhaps, to take a prisoner beyond the Ohio, and they could not forego a savage pleasure.

They dragged the hoy to the sapling, stood him erect against the slim trunk, and hound him fast with green withes.

Then they piled the dead leaves and brushwood high about him above his knees, and, this done, stood a little way off and looked at their work.
The warriors spoke together for the first time since Paul had awakened, and their black eyes lighted up with a hideous glow of anticipation.

Paul saw it, and an icy chill ran through all his veins.

Had not the green withes held him, he would have fallen to the ground.