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After exchanging a few words, it occurred to me that she must be the daughter of our friend Winnemak; and on my asking her, she said that such was the case. I then informed her who I was; upon which she immediately cut up the deer, lighted a fire, and prepared such a meal as I had not enjoyed for many a day.
Uncle Jeff, Gideon, and I, were naturally anxious to return to Roaring Water, that we might get up huts and re-establish ourselves before the commencement of winter. While we were in this dilemma, Winnemak and several of his braves appeared. On hearing of our difficulty, he said, "Commit them to my care.
Day was just breaking, and there being no objects to impede the rays of the sun as it approached the horizon, the light rapidly increased. Although I had, at first, lost sight of Winnemak, I soon again saw him, with the man he was pursuing at no great distance in front. On the two went.
"He has come to warn his friends, who sleep in security, that their enemies are on the war-path, and will ere long attempt to take their scalps." "They had better not try that game," said Uncle Jeff; "if they do, they will find that they have made a mistake." "The Redskins fight not as do the Palefaces; they try to take their enemies by surprise," answered Winnemak.
Although he must have seen I held my rifle in my hand, he advanced without hesitation. "What! do you not know me?" he exclaimed, when he got nearer. "I am Winnemak, the friend of the Palefaces; although, alas! with but little power to assist them. You, however, I can aid, for I see you are weary and hungry.
I asked, as I gazed down on the face of the vanquished brave. "He will die," answered Winnemak; "but he still breathes." "But I thought you wished to gain information from him?" I observed, feeling anxious to preserve the life of the poor wretch. "I did; but now I would rather enjoy the pleasure of seeing him die." "That is not the way we Palefaces treat a fallen enemy," I remarked.
"Who are these enemies you speak of; and how do you happen to know that they are coming to attack us?" asked Uncle Jeff, who generally suspected all Indian reports, and fancied that Winnemak was merely repeating what he had heard, or, for some reason of his own perhaps to gain credit to himself had come to warn us of a danger which had no real existence.
One Sunday I had ridden over to the fort, after Clarice's marriage, to see her and join the service there, when on my way back I bethought me of my promise to Winnemak. I accordingly rode to his village. None of his men were about; so, fastening up my horse, I went towards his house.
I saw the prisoner's eyes turned towards me, but he in no way expressed any gratitude for the service I desired to render him. Winnemak was all this time keeping a look-out on every side; while several of his men were acting as scouts, so as to give us timely notice of danger.
They settled that we should proceed northwards with the Indians, while they reconnoitred the pass; promising, should they find the account they had received to be correct, to rejoin us, and perhaps attempt to cross the mountains so as to reach the western plains. The mountains to the northwards, however, were but little known, and even Winnemak confessed that he had never wandered among them.
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