hat the man was murdered. It is hard to get a limit
to the unbridled passions of savages; and it may be that it was in
self-defence, or in the endeavor to prevent some other grievous wrong,
that whosoever killed him took his life."

"A mystery doth enshroud the affair. Where lost the man his life, and
by whose hand, and for what cause? It could not be where they camped
in the night. We heard no disturbance, no signs of violence are to be
seen, and the other Indians would have known. If Indians killed him,
why took they not his scalp, and why set they him floating on the
water? Herein it looks like the foolish prank of drunken sailors. But
then what cause of such enmity could there be? for all was done very
quietly. And what has become of the missing Taranteens? Are they too
killed, or in the forest on their way home? Has Sassacus any hand in
this matter? Be it as it may, the bold partizan of the Pequots must be
looked after."

"It is as thou sayest, hard to determine," answered the Knight; "but
if Indians were concerned in this most lamentable deed, strange has
been their conduct. Such truly is not the customary manner of the
natives to dispose of their enemies. Wonderful forbearance indeed, and
disregard of the traditions and superstitions of the tribes must it
require, to allow an enemy, when it can be prevented, to step upon the
happy hunting grounds, bearing the unviolated honors of his head."

"It may be," replied Dudley, "that his foes were unable to tear away
the bloody trophy; that before they could do so his body was rescued
by his companions."

"But how account for his being launched upon the deep? Is this an
Indian mode of disposing of friends?"

"My mind is as perplexed as thine. I will consider the thing more
maturely hereafter. Thou knowest their heathen tongue. Step forward,
may it please thee, and try to calm their irritated spirits, assuring
them of our friendship and grief at what we cannot explain."

Thus requested, the Knight advanced, and commenced a speech to the
savages, to which they listened in moody silence. What he said was of
course unintelligible to all except the Indians, but it appeared not
to produce a favorable impression. No sound, whether of approval or
the contrary, escaped their lips, as, surrounding the corpse of their
companion, they regarded it with ominous brows, until the Knight
concluded, when an Indian addressed him in reply.

"How hast thou prevailed?" inquired Dudley