THE AMERICANS AND THE ABORIGINES. 335 



" Few words," was the reply, " but weighty ones. 

 I understood that the poor girls would suffer for 

 their goodness to me ; and that, suspecting they had 

 brought a Yankee spy into your wigwam, you would 

 perhaps kill them." 



" And my brother ? " said the Miko. 



" Held himself bound to return, to avert the danger 

 from their innocent heads." 



The Indian stood for a while in silent reflection. 

 Then his countenance brightened, and once more he 

 stretched out his hand to the Englishman, to whom 

 this sign of good-will was rendered the more welcome 

 by the appearance of a long line of savages who just 

 then glided out of the thicket, and ranged themselves 

 behind their leader. 



" Does my brother wish to go to the village of the 

 whites 1 " said Tokeah, after a pause. 



" I do wish," said Hodges, " to rejoin my ship as 

 soon as possible. I am a British officer, and must 

 not be wanting at my post." 



The Indian shook his head. " The Miko," said 

 he, "knows the sons of the great father of the 

 Canadas ; he has lifted the war-hatchet with them 

 against the Yankees. Great warriors are they, but 

 in our forests blind as the night-owl. My brother 

 Avould never reach his people ; he would perish of 

 hunger in the wide wilderness. See," continued he, 

 pointing to a group of trees that appeared like a black 

 speck on the distant horizon, " my brother will go to 



VOL. III. T 



