ir midst. This is the gift which Black Wolf asks of his white
fathers. He has spoken.'"

In the midst of a dead silence the half king took his seat and studied
the ground. The Chickahominies, squatted round the circle, stirred not a
finger, and the outer row of spectators, motionless against a background
of interlacing branches patched with vivid blue, seemed a procession in
tapestry. The Ricahecrians and their formidable chief maintained a stony
gloom. Whatever interest they felt in the fate of their captive chief
was carefully concealed. The sun, now hanging, broad and red, low in the
heavens might have been the Gorgon's head and the whole village staring
at it.

The Governor began to laugh. Sir Charles chimed in musically and
Laramore followed suit. The Surveyor-General frowned, but the Colonel,
after one or two attempts at sobriety of demeanor, succumbed, and the
trio became a quartette. The glades of the forest rang to the jovial
sound--it was as though there were enchantment in the golden afternoon,
or in the ring of dark and frowning countenances before them, for they
laughed as though they would never stop. Even the servants at the
horses' heads were infected, and laughed at they knew not what.

The Surveyor-General lost patience. "I think the Jamestown weed groweth
in these woods," he said dryly.

The Governor pulled himself together. "Faith! I believe you are right!"
he said airily. "But rat me! if the impudence of the varlets be not the
most amusing thing since the Quaker's plea for toleration!"

"The amusement seems to be on our side," said the Surveyor-General.

The Governor cast a careless glance in the direction indicated by the
other. "Pshaw! a fit of the sulks! They will get over it. Is this
precious captive the giant whom I have seen at Rosemead, Major
Carrington?"

"Not so, your Excellency. My man is a Susquehannock."

"I believe I may lay claim to the fellow, Sir William," said the
Colonel, wiping his eyes.

"Is he the Indian who was whipt the other day?" asked Sir Charles,
taking snuff.

"For stealing fire-water--yes."

The Governor began to laugh again. "Of course you will release the
rascal, Colonel? The Blue Mountains threaten war if you do not. Fling
yourself into the breach, and so prevent a 'scandal to the community and
a menace to the State,' to quote your words of this morning. Consistency
is a jewel, Dick the Peacemaker. Wherefore let the savage go."

"I'll be d--d if I do!"