THE AMERICANS AND THE ABORIGINES. 337 



Miko whisper, and he will take my brother in his 

 canoe and restore him to his people." 



" The chief of the Salt Lake ! The pirate take 

 me back to my people 1 " exclaimed Hodges, shaking 

 his head. " My dear Miko, you are vastly mistaken. 

 He will take good care not to do so, for his welcome 

 would be a halter." 



" Is the chief of the Salt Lake also at war with 

 my brother's tribe?" inquired the Miko. 



"Not at war; but he is a pirate, who robs and 

 plunders wherever he goes, and, if taken, will of 

 course be hung." 



The countenance of the Indian darkened, and 

 Hodges feared that he had touched a dangerous 

 string. 



" My brother is right," said Tokeah ; " he must 

 go. But if he will remain, the wigwam of the Miko 

 is open to him ; the White Eose will cook his veni- 

 son, and he shall be the son of Tokeah." 



The Englishman took the old warrior's hand, and 

 pressed it kindly. 



" When, the Oconees," said he, adopting the Indian 

 phraseology, "have sworn to their Miko to lift the 

 war-hatchet in his behalf, they must keep their word, 

 or they are dogs. Even so must the son of the great 

 father of the Canadas observe the oath that he has 

 taken. He must hasten to his brothers, or he will 

 be looked upon as a coward, and his name will be 

 spoken with contempt." 



