"When the white man goes upon the war-path and would put trust in his foe,
he takes surety for his faith, by holding the life of one dear as a
warranty of its truth. What canst offer, that I may know thou wilt return
from the errand on which I would fain send thee?"
"The path is open."
"Open, but not certain to be used. Fear may cause thee to forget the way
it leads."
The captive now understood the meaning of the other's doubts, but, as
if disdaining to reply, he bent his eyes aside, and stood in one of
those immovable attitudes which so often gave him the air of a piece of
dark statuary.
Content and his wife had listened to this short dialogue, in a manner to
prove that they possessed some secret knowledge, which lessened the wonder
they might otherwise have felt, at witnessing so obvious proofs of a
secret acquaintance between the speakers. Both however manifested
unequivocal signs of astonishment, when they first heard English sounds
issuing from the lips of the boy. There was, at least, the semblance of
hope in the mediation of one who had received, and who had appeared to
acknowledge, so much kindness from herself; and Ruth clung to the cheering
expectation with the quickness of maternal care.
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