are ye ignorant of the customs of the English?"

Hereupon the principal Indian uttered a sentence or two,
unintelligible to Winthrop.

"Thou dost understand the language of the Taranteens, Sir
Christopher," he said. "May it please you, who are so happily here, to
explain his meaning?"

"He says," replied the Knight, "that he has been sent as a messenger
by his nation, and that he hopes you will respect his character."

"Surely," said Winthrop. "How could he imagine the contrary? Who can
impeach our faith?"

"You forget," said the Knight, "what suspicions must have been
engendered by the unhappy termination of the late embassy."

"It will be difficult to persuade me," said Winthrop, "that it was
other than a broil, wherein our people had no part. I cannot be
deceived," continued he, waving his hand, observing that Sir
Christopher was about to reply, "by the cunning stratagem resorted to,
for the purpose of averting suspicion. But a truce with this. Say to
him he is as safe as his child, if he has one, in his wigwam. What
says he now?" he inquired, after the Knight had interpreted his words,
and the Indian replied.

"He asks where are the four companions of Pieskaret."

"Tell him I know not, but suppose they have either returned to their
homes, or been destroyed by hostile Indians."

When this was explained, the stately savage sadly smiled, and shook
his head. He then spoke again.

"He says," answered the Knight, to the look of Winthrop, "that it is
not the custom of Taranteen ambassadors to run away, and that they
know how to protect themselves from the Aberginians."

"I protest," said Winthrop, "that, however different my own opinion, I
do half believe that these blinded savages in fact imagine their
tribes-men were murdered by the whites. To be deplored is it that such
an opinion should get footing among them, staining as it doth our good
name and pregnant with many possible evils. Assure him, Sir
Christopher, of my grief at what has happened; of my sincere desire to
discover how Pieskaret lost his life; of what has become of his
missing people; and of my readiness, if it can be shown that an
Englishman has in anywise connection therewith, to render to the
Taranteens perfect satisfaction."

The Indian listened to all this with the deepest attention as it was
explained to him, and then replied:

"Pieskaret is gone, and his kindred will see him no more The eyes of
his wife are swollen with weeping, and