Part 9 (1/2)
”I say, Eagle's-Wing,” said Ichabod, ”I don't half like this business.
That stranger seems to be a kind of white Seneca. I never knew an honest man who was afraid to look another honest man in the eye. I don't like him.”
”You guess right: I know him. He King George's man,” said the Tuscarora, quietly.
”What! a Tory!” exclaimed Ichabod. ”How do you know that, Eagle's-Wing?”
”Know? Know it sartin. Saw him down here on war-path. He fought with Senecas. No recollect?”
”That's it. Heavens and airth! why didn't I think of that? Here I've been trying for two days to remember where I've seen that hang-dog face.
He was one of the leaders of them venomous _reptiles_. Nothing can beat an Indian for recollecting things.”
”Indians got long memory. Know enemy always. Don't forget him.”
”I say, Eagle's-Wing, do you think the sarpent recollects _us_?”
”Yes--sartin. He recollect you--saw that. Recollect _me_, too. Most got his scalp: he recollect that, well, I know.”
”How's that, Eagle's-Wing?”
”When Seneca run, he run too. I shoot, and he fell. I run to get scalp--but Seneca warriors turn--too many of 'em--and they take him off.
He 'members that, sartin.”
”Now Eagle's-Wing, that sarpent has come here to practise some deviltry on us. He's fairly cheated the old Squire, and I s'pose he thinks he has cheated us, too. What shall we do with him?”
”I know what _I_ do,” and he significantly pointed to his knife.
”No--that won't do at all. You see, if he is in league with them Senecas, there's only _one_ way that he can help _them_ and injure _us_.
Being inside here, he reckons he can open the door to 'em.”
”Yes, that's the way--no other way.”
”Well, you see, Eagle's-Wing, we'll let him play his game out, but we'll try and be there to see it done. Now, mind, Eagle's-Wing, until that does happen, we mustn't seem to know him at all.”
”Yes, yes; make b'lieve friend--that the way.”
”I reckon we'll hear from them reptiles to-night; and if we do, Eagle's-Wing, we'll thin out their numbers a little, and then to-morrow for the Singing-Bird. You'll see her again to-morrow, and no mistake.”
A melancholy smile pa.s.sed over the countenance of the Tuscarora. It was immediately followed by such a gleam of deadly ferocity, that even Ichabod started.
”Panther got lying tongue--I tear it out. Panther got bad heart--I tear it out. He take _my_ squaw--he never see his own squaw again.”
”I don't blame you. Eagle's-Wing, for your feelings towards that reptile; but I do wish you Injins could learn a civilized mode of warfare. I shan't argue with you: I know better than that; but I ra'ally don't see how any Injin of your qualities can have such a strong desire for tearing scalps off from all his enemies. But it's Injin natur' I s'pose. When white people offer bounties for such things, I don't much blame Injins for speculating in that kind of article: but to do it when nothing's to be made out of it, beats my comprehension.”
But we must leave Ichabod and the Tuscarora to their conversation, while we follow Ralph to the interview which he sought with Miss Barton.
Proceeding directly towards the front portion of the house, and entering a room which was fitted up tastefully, and adapted to ”state occasions,”