United States or Saint Barthélemy ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
This last remark was made in a way I did not like; for the idea seemed to cross the Onondago's brain so suddenly, as to draw from him this brief assertion in pure bitterness of spirit. "I should be very sorry if it had not been, Susquesus," I observed, myself, "since the title is all the better for its having been so, as our Indian deed will show.
By this time we had reached the hut, where I found Guert and Dirck already at their supper. I will own that my appetite was not as good as it might have been, but for the Onondago's conjectures and discoveries; though I took a seat, and began to eat with my friends.
I was so much interested in the Onondago's manner, as to join him, falling-in in his rear, in order not to interfere with his object. Of foot-marks there were plenty, more particularly on the low, moist ground, where we were; but they all appeared, to me, to have no interest with the Indian.
"Neither of which will place us in the midst of that gallant army, as it is our wish to be." "See, bye'm by. Injin know no hurry, now. Hurry come, when Frenchman shoot." I did not like this speech, nor the manner in which it was uttered; but there were too many things to think of, just then, to be long occupied by vague conjectures touching the Onondago's evasive allusions.
For five hours had we walked with great rapidity, much as the bird flies, so far as course was concerned, never turning aside, unless it might be to avoid some impassable obstacle; and our calculation was that we had made quite twenty, of the forty miles we had to go over, according to the Onondago's account of the probable length of our journey.
Why I had been thus particularly selected for the scene that succeeded, I cannot say, unless the Onondago's native sagacity had taught him to distinguish between the educations and feelings of us three young men. So it was, however, and I left the rude shelter we had prepared for the night, alone. A glorious sight awaited me!
But, he will probably be carried to Ravensnest, as the nearest nest for him to nestle in. I don't half like this trail, however, Corny; it is seldom a red-skin of the Onondago's character, makes a mistake in such a matter!" "It is too late, now, to do anything to-night," Dirck observed.
What has brought you back?" "Time to go, now," answered the Indian, quietly. "Yengeese and Canada warrior soon fight." "Is this true! And do you, can you know it to be true! Where have you been this fortnight past?" "Been see have see know him just so. Come call young men; go on war-path." Here, then, was an explanation of the mystery of the Onondago's absence!
I have always thought we ran a grave risk, in advancing so far in that direction, since the enemy's Indians would certainly be hanging around the skirts of our army, in quest of scalps; but I afterwards learned the secret of the Onondago's confidence, who first spoke on the subject after we had left the shore, and then only in an answer to a remark of Guert's.
Still, it was necessary to make some answer to the Onondago's question, lest he might carry away the mistaken notion that we did not justly own our possessions.
Word Of The Day