uncil, if desperate means be not adopted to avenge
the doings of this night."

This indeed appeared to be the opinion of all, to judge from the haste
with which they pushed steadily on, resting not until they had reached
the wigwam of the chief whereto Spikeman had been taken. Here, the
first care of the white men was to wash off the paint from their
persons, not without a half-jesting objection from the Sagamore.

"The two friends of Sassacus," he said, "have Indian hearts; why
should they not keep their Indian skins? Let them come with me, and
they shall become great sachems over the tribes that listen to the
voice of the little salt lake."

Philip, who was in high spirits at the success of their enterprise,
and whose philosophy enabled him always to enjoy the present moment,
was ready with an answer.

"A tempting offer," he said; "and, by the head of King Charles, (his
favorite oath), better, I trow, than this hand-to-mouth life we have
lately been leading. Plenty of bear's meat and venison, and no
prisons, Sagamore! Verily, thy words are pleasant."

"The deer shall come to lick the hands of my brothers, and the bear
offer his steaks, and they will be as free as the wind on the tops of
the hills. They shall also have many squaws, and young wives shall
smile on them when the old are wrinkled and cross."

"Ha! ha!" laughed Philip. "I misdoubt whether that would suit all
round. But, Sagamore, if I should ever have the luck to get a nice
white squaw, I will ask her opinion; and if she fancies the plan of my
having half a dozen wives, I will consider it."

"A truce to this trifling," said Sir Christopher. "It is all sport
with thee, Philip, but dost not remark it begins to be earnest with
the chief?"

"He is quick-witted enough to understand," answered Joy. "Why, Sir
Christopher, these salvages laugh so seldom, that they ought to be
encouraged when they begin. I fear me that the long faces of the folk
at the settlement are catching, and that the poor Indians are more
than half spoiled already. Now, according to my judgment, it is a
human privilege to laugh. Some say, to be sure, that dogs and horses
laugh, but I never heard anything that amounted to more than a
snicker, and that I suppose they caught from being with people."

"Sassacus," said the Knight, "this is no longer any place for thee.
The white men are at this moment seeking me, and will soon be also on
thy track, and show no mercy. The voices of thy tr