Chapter 25

"Every stride--every stamp,
Every footfall is bolder;
'Tis a skeleton's tramp,
With a skull on its shoulder!
But ho, how he steps
With a high-tossing head,
That clay-covered bone,
Going down to the dead!"

Coxe.

Nick's countenance was a fair index to his mind; nor were his words
intended to deceive. Never did Wyandotté forget the good, or evil, that
was done him. After looking intently, a short time, at the Hut, he
turned and abruptly demanded of his companions,--

"Why come here? Like to see enemy between you and wigwam?"

As all Nick said was uttered in a guarded tone, as if he fully entered
into the necessity of remaining concealed from those who were in such a
dangerous vicinity, it served to inspire confidence, inducing the two
soldiers to believe him disposed to serve them.

"Am I to trust in you as a friend?" demanded the captain, looking the
Indian steadily in the eye.

"Why won't trust? Nick no hero--gone away--Nick nebber come ag'in--
Wyandotté hero--who no trust Wyandotté? Yengeese always trust great
chief."

"I shall take you at your word, Wyandotté, and tell you everything,
hoping to make an ally of you. But, first explain to me, why you left
the Hut, last night--friends do not desert friends."

"Why leave wigwam?--Because wanted to. Wyandotté come when he want; go
when he want. Nick go too.--Went to see son--come back; tell story;
eh?"

"Yes, it has happened much as you say, and I am willing to think it all
occurred with the best motives. Can you tell me anything of Joel, and
the others who have left me?"

"Why tell?--Cap'in look; he see. Some chop--some plough--some weed--
some dig ditch. All like ole time Bury hatchet--tired of war-path--why
cap'in ask?"

"I see all you tell me. You know, then, that those fellows have made
friends with the hostile party?"

"No need know--see. Look--Injin chop, pale-face look on! Call that
war?"

"I do see that which satisfies me the men in paint yonder are not all
red men."

"No--cap'in right--tell him so at wigwam. But dat Mohawk--dog--rascal--
Nick's enemy!"

This was said with a gleam of fierceness shooting across the swarthy
face, and a menacing gesture of the hand, in the direction of a real
savage who was standing indolently leaning against a tree, at a
distance so small as to allow those on the rock to distinguish his
features. The vacant expression of this man's countenance plainly
denoted that he was totally unconscious of the vicinity of danger. It
expressed the listless vacancy of an