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As for the Trackless, or Susquesus, as he was commonly called, his temperance throughout a long life did him good service, and his half-naked limbs and skeleton-like body, for he wore the summer dress of his people, appeared to be made of a leather long steeped in a tannin of the purest quality.
To stand aloof and see my friends borne down by numbers was impossible, however, and Susquesus and myself fell upon the enemy's rear. This charge of ours had the appearance of a sortie, and it produced a decided effect on the result, opening a passage by which Dirck and the two settlers issued from the throng, and joined us.
"That is true enough, Susquesus," Guert answered; for Guert, by his age, his greater familiarity with the woods, his high courage and his personal prowess, had now assumed, unresistingly on our part, a sort of chieftainship over us, "Can you tell us the reason, however?" "Muss, you call him, back sore that all. Know him well; don't love flog. No Injin love flog."
For several minutes I stood entranced; nor did I speak until the rays of the sun had penetrated the dusky light that lay on the inferior world, as low as the bases of the western mountains. "What are we to do, Susquesus?" I then asked, feeling how much right the Indian now might justly claim to govern our movements. "Eat breakfast, first" the Onondago quietly replied; "then go down mountain."
Susquesus knew but little of maps, it was clear enough; but the result showed that he knew a great deal about the woods, his native field of action. "Well, what do you make of my map, Trackless," repeated the surveyor. "Is it not drawn to suit your fancy?" "Good" returned the Onondago, with emphasis. "Now show Susquesus your oak tree." "Here it is, Trackless.
"Sartain; why no go, if he want? Good to be messenger, sometime. Where wampum what tell him?" Thus encouraged, we deliberated together, and soon had Susquesus in readiness to depart. As for the Indian, he laid aside all his arms, washed the war-paint from his face, put a calico shirt over his shoulders, and assumed the guise of peace.
"That road good for young men who don't want see enemy!" said Susquesus, with ironical point. "By St. Nicholas! Indian, what do you mean?" cried Guert, turning short on his heels and moving swiftly towards the Onondago, who did not wait for the menacing blow, but wheeled in his tracks and led off, at a quick pace, directly towards the north-west.
"Ask that question of the Indian," put in Dirck, a little significantly. We looked at Susquesus inquiringly, for a look always sufficed to let him comprehend us, when a tolerably plain allusion had been previously made. "Black-man do foolish t'ing," observed the Onondago.
Shouldering our packs, and placing all around, and in the hut, as much as possible in the condition in which we had found the place, we then commenced our march, Susquesus leading, as usual. We went in quest of the surveyors, who were supposed to be in the south-east corner of the Patent, employed as usual, and ignorant of all that had passed.
The infernal cruelty of his conquerors may have kept him as a prisoner, for some time before the final catastrophe, and caused them to carry him about with them as a captive, in order to subject the wretch to as much misery as possible, for, as Susquesus said, Muss' 'back very sore.
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