"Thou dost not remember that we have valiant troopers, from old
England, to keep the younker from doing harm. But here cometh the brave
soldier himself: it will be well to ask vigilance at his hands, or this
night may bring us to the tomahawk in our sleep!"
"Thou speakest of the weapon of the savages!" said the messenger, who had
drawn near again with a visible willingness to share in an interview which
while he had watched its progress at a distance appeared to be growing
interesting. "I trust all fear is over, from that quarter."
"As you say, for _this_ quarter," said Eben, adjusting his lips to a low
whistle, and coolly looking up to examine the heavenly body to which he
meant allusion. "But the _next_ quarter may bring us a pretty piece of
Indian skirmishing."
"And what hath the moon in common with an incursion of the savages? Are
there those among them, who study the secrets of the stars?"
"They study deviltries and other wickedness, more than aught else. It is
not easy for the mind of man to fancy horrors such as they design, when
Providence has given them success in an inroad.
Pages:
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169