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Oonomoo awoke in a short time, and reseated himself by the side of his wife. "Where is Niniotan?" he asked, looking around him. "He is dressing the meat of the deer which he slew this morning. Shall I call him?" "No, I am not yet tired of my Fluellina." The happy wife replied by placing her warm cheek against his, and holding it there a moment.
"The eye of Niniotan is sure, and his mother never wants." "He must not wander from the island, else his young arm may be overpowered by the Shawnees or Miamis. They would know he was the son of Oonomoo, and through the son murder the father and mother."
A half-mile at this rate, and a tributary of the creek a brook, merely was reached, up which the canoe shot with such speed, that a few minutes later it ran almost its entire length where the water was no more than an inch in depth. Springing ashore, Niniotan darted off, closely followed by his father, until they reached a portion of the wood so dense that they paused.
Placing his hand upon his head, the man of God addressed him in the tones of a father: "Let Niniotan heed the words of Oonomoo; let him grow up a Christian warrior, and when his spirit leaves this world, it will join his and Fluellina's in the happy hunting-grounds in the sky. Niniotan, I offer you a home at our mission-house so long as you choose to remain.
The Shawnees saw it, and one of them sprung forward, as if to claim his scalp, but he fell howling to the ground, prostrated by a ball from the undaunted Niniotan who still maintained his place behind his tree.
Never before had he seen him give way to his feelings, or speak in such loud, almost fierce tones. The soldier remained at a respectful distance, until the Huron turned his head and told him to approach. "Dis my son Niniotan," said he. "He go wid us." "I am glad of his company I am sure. Did you expect to meet him in this place?"
In something less than an hour, the swamp, in the interior of which was the Huron's lodge, was reached; but instead of taking the usual route to it, Niniotan diverged to the left, until they reached a portion of the creek that was less swampy in its character.
With a simplicity as touching as it was earnest, he spoke aloud his forgiveness of the Shawnees, saying that he wished not their scalps, and had not taken any for several years, not since the Great Spirit had sent a wonderful light in his soul. For a moment more he was silent, and then opening his eyes, uttered the name of Niniotan. "I am here before you!" replied the boy.
We saw them through the trees, and hid in the bushes until they had passed, and they searched until night for us." "Where is Fluellina hid?" "Close by the side of the stream which floats by the island, but many miles from it." "How long will it take Niniotan to guide Oonomoo there?" "Four or five hours. The wood is open and clear from briers." "And are the Shawnees upon Fluellina's trail?"
"Niniotan, be a Huron warrior; be as Oonomoo has been; never take the scalp of a foe, and kill none except in honorable warfare; live and die a Christian." As was his custom, when addressing his wife or boy, this exhortation was given in his own tongue, so that the missionary was the only one beside them who understood it.
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