s back propped
against a rock, the firelight playing over his wrinkled face, as he
gazed at us, yet dazed and frightened. This was one whom I had never
before seen; there was something of distinction about him, both as
regards face and costume, which instantly convinced me he held high
rank in the tribe--no doubt the chief priest. His sharp, black,
malicious eyes wandered unsteadily from the Puritan to myself, as if he
sought to regain his scattered senses. Finally he ventured a single
word of inquiry:

"_Francais_?"

"No," I answered shortly, speaking deliberately in French, hopeful he
might know something of the tongue. "We are not of that people, yet I
speak the language."

"I glad you not _Francais_," he said brokenly, yet intelligibly, his
tone gruff, his accent guttural; "but I talk you some in that tongue."

"How come you to speak French?"

His lean face hardened. As he bent forward, his fingers clinched
convulsively. At first I thought he would not answer.

"'T was much time since I learn; when I was young man," he answered
slowly, recalling the unfamiliar words. "Then no snow in hair, no lame
in leg, and my people dwell beside the great river toward the
sun-rising. We were a great nation, with slaves to work our land,
warriors to fight our battles, and priests to make sacrifice. Then we
had much of treasure from our fathers." He bowed his head, mumbling
indistinctly; then continued, as if talking to himself, after the
fashion of the aged: "Long time before that there came to our village
men in canoes, floating down the great river out of the north. They
were of white face, and wore shining things on their bodies and heads,
and bore in their hands that which spouted fire and death. This was
before I was born, yet I was told it often of my fathers. My people
believed them children of the Sun, because of their white faces and
light hair; they were made welcome, taken into the house of the altar,
fed, warmed, and loved. I know not who they were, or whence they came,
yet they spoke this tongue, did point at themselves and say
'_Francais_,' and told of a mighty King away off, and worshipped before
a cross-piece of wood. My people knew not what to make of them; yet
they were not afraid, and treated the strangers with kindness, and
there was no war between them. He who seemed their leader had one hard
hand of metal, and they named him 'Tonty.' Know you such a man of your
color?"

"No," I answ