The Frontiersmen Part 8

The Tuscarora, too, was heartily welcomed; and the morning meal, which had been left waiting for Ichabod, was at once served. The Tuscarora ate but little; for, however so much disposed an Indian may be to give way to a gluttonous disposition in "piping times of peace," when on the war-path, he is always abstemious to a degree; and he holds in great contempt the man who suffers his appet.i.te to overcome his necessary care and watchfulness. Ichabod, however, had no such scruples; and he did as ample justice to the "good things" which were set before him, as if such an animal as a Seneca had never existed.

Having finished their breakfast, Ichabod proceeded to communicate to Ralph and Barton what he had witnessed, together with a brief account of the treachery of Panther towards Eagle's-Wing. It was at once resolved that the Tuscarora should be protected.

"For," said Barton, "if the Senecas should dare to attack the cottage, they will find that we have ample mean of defence. But I do not think they will do so; they will not dare so openly to violate the neutrality which now exists."

"That tribe is proverbially treacherous," said Ralph, "and from Eagle's-Wing's story, the chief of this party is especially so. I think they will attack us, if they learn that the Tuscarora is sheltered here, but I agree with you that we are bound to protect him. The cottage is in a good state of defence, and we can defend it against twice the number of this party.

"Yes, and were they ten times as strong," answered Barton, "the Tuscarora should not be surrendered. His services in our behalf are too recent to be so soon forgotten; and besides, I would protect any individual of the Oneida or Tuscarora nation, against those perfidious rascals."

The old man said this with an animation and energy that settled the question.

The Tuscarora, however, did not seem to a.s.sent, willingly, to the arrangement. With a sensitiveness and courtesy which are almost peculiar to the Indian warrior, he endeavored to decline a shelter which would be likely to bring Barton and his family into some peril on his behalf.

"No," he said, "let Canendesha go. He knows the woods, and the warrior likes the woods. _There_ is plenty chance to fight--plenty good place to hide. Warrior can't fight here--can't take any scalp here."

Sambo put his hand to his head, with a vivid remembrance of the _joke_ of the night before; and even Barton and Ralph were a good deal shocked at the cool-blooded way in which the Tuscarora spoke of this peculiar mode of Indian warfare. Barton felt called to enter his protest, at once.

"Tuscarora," he said, "it isn't _Christian_ to scalp. I supposed that the Tuscaroras and Oneidas had better notions than to do so."

"What Christian do, eh?" asked Eagle's-Wing, quietly.

"A Christian never mutilates his enemy, after he has conquered him,"

replied Barton.

"What that?" inquired the Tuscarora, with a look of incomprehension.

"A Christian warrior," said Barton, who found himself somewhat puzzled to explain clearly, to the comprehension of the Indian, the idea he had in his mind; "A Christian warrior _kills_ his enemy; he don't----"

"Christian _kill_ enemy, eh?" said Eagle's-Wing, quickly "What scalp good for to enemy, after he killed? Good to warrior to show squaw--good to show chiefs--good many scalps make great chief."

"Yes, but why not bear off some other trophy? why not take a portion of the enemy's dress, or something of that sort?"

"Warrior can't carry away _all_:--some other Injin get some,--make _him_ great warrior too. No--no--Injin got but _one_ scalp: he 'spect to have it taken; and if he killed, _must_ lose it."

Eagle's-Wing evidently thought he had exhausted the argument; and, in truth, he had. It would have been utterly impossible to have held any such controversy with him, with any prospect of success, and have admitted the right to slay an enemy at all.

Ichabod chuckled over the victory which had been gained by his friend; not that he justified the practice, but that he thought it would be utterly useless to endeavor to improve an Indian, in that respect. It was a practice which had been taught in infancy, and become an instinct; for the warrior having slain the enemy, secures the scalp, or his victory is but half won.

Just at this point in the conversation, Sambo, who had left the house a few moments before, came running in, saying that Guthrie had just come in sight, and was approaching the cottage. By a sort of instinctive feeling, the whole party, except the Tuscarora, who did not seem to be familiar with the name, looked as if they expected some new scene in this forest drama was about to be enacted. But with an appearance of unconcern, they prepared to receive him; and in a moment more, the door opened, and the heavy, coa.r.s.e figure of Guthrie was in the room.

As he opened the door, the Tuscarora made a sudden movement of surprise, which Ichabod saw, although it was unnoticed by either Ralph or Barton.

The Indian immediately resumed his appearance of composure, and looked at the visitor with an air of indifference; but Ichabod saw that Eagle's-Wing had made some discovery which might be of extreme importance in the events which were likely to occur. As has been before remarked, Ichabod had a distinct impression that he had before seen Guthrie's face--but _where_, he could not recollect. With a feeling of distrust, which the sudden gesture of the Tuscarora he served to enliven, he now waited to earn the object of the visit. "Good day, Guthrie," said Barton, "what news do you bring from below."

"O nothing in particular, Squire; but I thought I'd come up and tell you that there's a large lot of Injins round."

"I suppose there is nothing very singular in that," answered Barton, "so long as this may be considered Indian territory, as yet."

Now, Barton had always looked upon Guthrie with a feeling of distrust; and for this reason he thought it best to appear ignorant of facts he well knew, as by so doing, he might better ascertain the true object of his visit.

He therefore continued: "I am a kind of tenant at sufferance of the Oneidas here, myself; and I certainly cannot object to their visiting their own territory."

"But these Injins arn't Oneidas, Squire. If I know one Maqua from another, they're Senecas," said Guthrie.

"Senecas!" exclaimed Barton, with the appearance of surprise, "what business have the Senecas here, I should like to know?"

"I ra'ally can't tell, Squire, what kind of business they did _come_ on out here; but they've got into a raging pa.s.sion since they've been here, and I am ra'ally afeard of trouble."

"They have had no occasion, certainly, for anger with me or mine, and I cannot suppose that they intend me any injury."

"Well, the truth is, Squire, they say that this Injin you've got here,"

pointing to the Tuscarora, "has got the scalp of one of their young men; and they declare they'll take him, any way; if they can't by fair means, they will by foul."

"You do not think they would dare to attack the cottage for the purpose of capturing him?" said Barton.

"There's no telling what them Senecas _won't_ do, Squire, when they're angry; but I rather reckon they will, if they know you've got him here."

"What would you advise me to do, Guthrie? You understand the ways of this nation pretty well."

"As for understanding the ways of the Senecas, in particular Squire,"

answered Guthrie somewhat hastily, "I can't say that I do; but a man can't live in the woods as long as I have, without knowing _something_ about the Injins in general: but as for what you'd better do, I ra'ally can't say. But the way it looks to me is, that if you want your buildings burnt down, and may be yourself and family taken prisoners, you'll keep him; but if you don't, you'll send him away. But it arn't for me to say."

"Now, Guthrie," said Barton, with the appearance of doubt. "I'll put it to you as a question of honor, under all the difficulties you mention: this Tuscarora saved my daughter's life, yesterday; now, can I, as an honorable man, surrender him to his enemies?"

"Well Squire, that _is_ a pretty _tight_ spot, that's sartin," said Guthrie. "But you see, if he did save Miss Barton's life yesterday, it is no reason why he should put it in danger to-day; and yours and your guests besides."

"Why, Guthrie, you talk as if I couldn't defend myself here, if I really tried. You seem to take it for granted, that if we _are_ attacked, _they_ must conquer. I am not so certain of that."

"I know," said Guthrie, "you've got a pretty tolerably strong fix of a place here; but I _do_ reckon you couldn't hold out much of a siege.

I've seen stronger places taken by fewer Indians, in my day."

"Why, how many Senecas do you think there are, Guthrie?" asked Barton.

"Well, I ra'ally don't know; but I should think I'd seen pretty nigh a hundred on 'em."

Barton smiled. The object of Guthrie was now perfectly evident. For some reason, he had endeavored to induce Barton to surrender the Tuscarora, and had thus magnified the force of the enemy, and cast doubt upon the ability of Barton to maintain the defence of his dwelling.

Ralph, although very indignant at this dishonest intention of Guthrie, maintained the appearance of composure. The Tuscarora one would have judged to have been totally devoid of the sense of hearing; for no motion or gesture betrayed that he supposed himself the subject of this back-woods diplomacy. As for Ichabod, he had with difficulty restrained himself, so far, from breaking into the conversation. Now, however, he suddenly broke in by advancing towards Guthrie, and exclaiming--

"I say, _stranger_, you can't be very good at reckoning, for a man who has lived all his life in the woods, and ought to know the number of his enemies at first sight. _Only_ thirty-five, counting that red _reptile_ that lost his scalp. And as for them thirty-five, if they want Eagle's-Wing, all they've got to do, you see, is to come and take him."

Guthrie, who saw at once that his plan had failed, and that Barton knew accurately the number of the Senecas with whom, at the worst, he would have to contend, now changed his tactics.

"Well, friend," said he to Ichabod, "you might have been a little more civil, even if you _are_ right, and I'm wrong. I didn't count 'em--I only saw 'em a long ways off, through the woods, and might be mistaken, you know. But," said he, with a manner of perfect frankness, turning to Barton, "whether there's thirty-five or a hundred, I don't know nor don't care, so far as I'm concerned; if you say fight, here I am, Squire, and I'll help you out with it, any way."

Barton suffered his feelings of distrust to be overcome at once.

Grasping Guthrie's hand, he exclaimed--"That's right, friend. You and I are neighbors here, and there's no reason why we shouldn't be friends, at such a time as this. The Tuscarora has been deeply wronged by these Senecas, and if he has revenged himself, it's Indian law, and we can't blame him for it. No--I can't surrender him; and if they want to fight about it, why we'll get out of it the best we can."

Barton, who was extremely gratified at this addition to the force of the cottage, at once led Guthrie about the building and grounds, to show him his preparations for defence. Ralph was not at all pleased with the manner of Guthrie; but as he knew that Baron was much better acquainted with him than he pretended to be, he could not object to receiving the aid which was so frankly offered, and which might be needed. After the departure of Barton and his new ally, Ichabod and the Tuscarora fell into an earnest but whispered conversation, and Ralph left the apartment in search of Miss Baron, whom he had not seen since the events of the day before.