faced them with a bold front, or kept a proper watch at
night," he answered. "Those Arrapahas are cowardly; they will only
attack their enemies when they feel secure in their numbers, or can take
them by surprise."

"They fought bravely enough when they assaulted Uncle Jeff's farm," I
observed. "I should not have called them cowards."

"They had white men with them--and only the bravest of their warriors
took part in the fight," he replied.

I could only trust that Winnemak was right in his conjecture, and that
we should find Clarice and her escort at the camp. With regard to Uncle
Jeff, I was still more anxious, and I began to fear that,
notwithstanding his clever trick, he might not have escaped the bullets
and arrows of his pursuers; or his horse might have fallen, and he have
been taken prisoner. Altogether, my state of mind may be better imagined
than described; still, always hopeful, I continued to hope, in spite of
the appearance of things, that they would all turn up right at last.

I spoke to the chief on another subject. I was not altogether satisfied
as to the way in which he intended to treat his prisoner, and he did not
seem at all disposed to enlighten me. I told him how white men always
fed their prisoners, and took good care of the wounded; and when war was
over, set them free to return to their homes.

"The ways of the Palefaces are not those of the Redskins," he answered
evasively. "Piomingo must be treated according to our customs; and my
braves would complain were I to set him free to commit more mischief."

I pleaded for the poor wretch that he had not done us any injury as yet;
that though he had been watching the camp, we could not tell that he had
any sinister object in doing so; and that, as his life had been
preserved, it would be barbarous to take it afterwards.

The chief heard me very patiently, but he was evidently unmoved by all
my arguments.

I now and then went up and spoke to the poor prisoner, who, I suspected,
was still suffering great pain, although Indian fortitude forbade him to
give expression to his feelings. I urged his bearers, in the few words I
could speak of their language, and by signs, to carry him carefully, for
they were inclined to treat him as they would a deer or any other animal
they might have shot. I saw the prisoner's eyes turned towards me, but
he in no way expressed any gratitude for the service I desired to render
him.

Winnemak was all this time kee