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Page 55
"By heavens! I remember leaving that ridge away to the right, which
proves that the white dogs must have been on my trail. I took pains
enough to conceal it before that night; but if they got the better of
me, I don't think they did of the rain that fell afterwards--so that
they have doubtless found themselves on a fool's errand, long ere this,
and given up the search. Besides, should they reach the river's bank,
they have no means of crossing, and therefore we are safe."
Wild-cat seemed to muse on the remarks of Girty, for a moment or two,
and then said:
"Why did Mishemenetoc[10] give the chief cunning, but that he might use
it against his foes?--why caution, but that he might avoid danger?"
"Why that, of course, is all well enough at times," answered Girty; "but
I don't think either particular cunning or caution need be exercised
now--from the fact that I don't believe there is any danger. Even should
the enemies you saw be fool-hardy enough to follow us, they are not many
in number probably, and will only serve to add a few more scalps to our
girdles. However, we are safe for to-night, at all events; for if they
reach the river, as I said before, they won't be able to cross, unless
they make a raft or swim it; and you may rest assured, Peshewa, they
will sleep on the other side, if for nothing else than their own
safety."
"What, therefore, does my brother propose?" asked Wild-cat.
"Why, I am for encamping, as soon as we can find a suitable spot--say
within a mile of here--for by ----! I am not only hungry but cold, and my
very bones ache, from traveling in this untimely storm, which I perceive
is on the point of clearing up."
"Peshewa likes not sleeping with danger so near," replied the savage.
"Well, I'm not _afraid_," rejoined Girty, laying particular stress on
the latter word; "and so suppose you take the prisoners, with a part of
the band, and go forward, while myself and the balance remain behind to
reconnoitre in the morning; for by ----! that will be time enough to look
for the lazy white dogs. Yet stay!" he added, a moment after, as if
struck by a new thought. "Suppose you take the two Big Knives, and leave
the squaws with me--for being very tired, they will only be a drag upon
your party--and then you can have the stakes ready for the others, if
you get in first, so that we can have the music of their groans to make
us merry on our second meeting."
To this latter proposition, the chief gave a grunt of assent, and the
whole matter being speedily arranged, the council ended.
The conversation between these two worthies having been carried on in
the Indian dialect, was of course wholly unintelligible to Mrs. Younker
and her husband, who were standing near; and trying in vain, for some
time, to gain a clue to the discussion, the good lady at last gave
evidence, that if her body and limbs were weary, her tongue was not;
and that with all the warnings she had received, her old habits of
volubility had not as yet been entirely superseded by thoughtful
silence.
"I do wonder what on yarth," she said, "that thar read-headed Simon
Girty, and that thar ripscallious old varmint, as calls himself a chief,
be coniving at?--and why the pesky Injens don't let me and Ella and the
rest on 'em come together agin, as we did afore? Thar she stands--the
darling--as pale nor a lily, and crying like all nater, jest as if
her little heart war a going to break and done with it. I 'spect the
varmints is hatching some orful plans to put us out o' the way--prehaps
to hitch us to the stake and burn us all to cinder, like they did our
housen, and them things. Well, Heaven's will be done!--as Preacher
Allprayer said, when they turned him out o' meeting for gitting drunk
and swearing--the dear good man!--but I do wish, for gracious sake, I
could only jest change places with 'em--ef jest for five minutes--and
I reckon as how they'd be glad to quit their gibberish, and talk like
Christian folks, once in thar sneaking lives! Thar, they're done now,
I do hope to all marcy's sake! and I reckons as how we'll soon have the
gist on't."
The foregoing remarks of Mrs. Younker, were made in a low tone,
and evidently not intended, like Dickens' Notes, for general
circulation--the nearly fatal termination of a former speech of hers,
having taught her to be a little cautious in the camp of the enemy.
The conclusion was succeeded by a stare of surprise, on being civilly
informed by Girty, that she was now at liberty to join Ella as soon as
she pleased.
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