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Tonyquat will be a great chief," said the red man, with another grave nod. "Ho, look there!" whispered Tony, glaring in the direction of a thicket while he fitted a sharp arrow to his bow. Turning quickly, the Indian saw a grizzly bear rise from behind a rock and look at the hunters inquiringly.
"Well," he said, smiling slightly, "I have no doubt that my father will forgive you, now that you have brought back the child." A gleam, which seemed to have a touch of scorn in it, shot from the Indian's eye as he rejoined "When Petawanaquat brings back Tonyquat, it is a proof that he forgives the old white father." This was all that the Indian would condescend to say.
Tony was enough of one to remain motionless and abstracted like a brown statue. The slightest possible twitch at one corner of Petawanaquat's mouth showed that he had observed the movement, but his brow did not relax as he said "Tonyquat must make his red father a promise. White men are coming here. They travel towards the setting sun. If they hear the voice of Tonyquat they will take him away."
Of course the red man did not take Tony with him on his longest hunting expeditions, but he took him considerable distances from home notwithstanding, and showed him the "far west" sport in all its phases, insomuch that Tony, who could scarcely sit a trotting horse in the settlements, became Tonyquat the Fearless in the course of time could ride bare-backed steeds with ease, and could send his little arrows into the flank of a buffalo with as much coolness, if not as much force, as his instructor.
The Indian's smile became a sad one, and his look was again perplexed, as he rose and returned to the camp, followed by his adopted son. It was obvious that no light was to be thrown on his religious difficulties, whatever they were, by Tonyquat.
Still far ahead of his pursuers, the Indian rode alone without check or halt, to the alarm of Tony, who felt that something unusual had occurred to make his self-appointed father look so fierce. "What de matter?" he ventured to ask. "Nobody chase us." "Let Tonyquat shut his mouth," was the brief reply. And Tony obeyed. He was learning fast! Suddenly the air on the horizon ahead became clouded.
"Will they take me to my own father?" cried Tony, forgetting his role in the excitement of the moment. "Petawanaquat has said that the white strangers travel towards the setting sun. Red River lies in the direction of the rising sun. Would Tonyquat like to go with white strangers into the mountains?"
It should have been remarked that previous to this, Petawanaquat had modified his own costume. His leggings were fringed with scalp-locks; he had painted his face, and stuck a bunch of feathers in his hair, and a gay firebag and a tomahawk were thrust under his belt behind. "Ho!" he exclaimed, with a look of satisfaction, "now Tony is Tonyquat, and Petawanaquat is his father!"
"Tonyquat!" exclaimed Mrs Ravenshaw, aghast with surprise, "what does the child mean?" "I'll say Tony, mother, if you like it better," he said, taking his mother's hand. "He's become a redskin," said Victor, half-amused, half-anxious.
The Indian nodded approvingly. This accorded, as far as it went, with what he had learned from the missionaries of Red River, but his mind was evidently perplexed. He smoked, meditated a considerable time, and glared at Tony in silence; then said suddenly "Tonyquat, your father is not a Christian." "My fadder would knock zoo down if zoo say dat to hims face," replied the child confidently.
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