"I know thee to be one who feeleth the obligations of a warrior," said
Ruth, as she ushered her follower into the presence of the children. "Thou
wilt not deceive me; the lives of these tender ones are in thy keeping.
Look to them, Miantonimoh, and the Christian's God will remember thee in
thine own hour of necessity!"
The boy made no reply, but in a gentle expression which was visible in his
dark visage, the mother endeavored to find the pledge she sought. Then, as
the youth, with the delicacy of his race, moved aside in order that they
who were bound to each other by ties so near might indulge their feelings
without observation, Ruth again drew near her offspring, with all the
tenderness of a mother beaming in her eyes.
"Once more I bid thee not to look too curiously at the fearful strife that
may arise in front of our habitations," she said. "The heathen is truly
upon us, with bloody mind; young, as well as old, must now show faith in
the protection of our master, and such courage as befitteth believers."
"And why is it, mother," demanded her child, "that they seek to do us
harm? have we ever done evil to them?"
"I may not say.
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