When the Indian was suffered to rise, there was a
threatening expression on his countenance, which, not
even the number of those by whom he was now surrounded
could check, and he made an involuntary motion of his
hand to his scalping knife, the only weapon with which
he was armed, that lay in the sheath dangling from his
girdle. Seeing, however, that there was no hostile
disposition manifested by the party, he speedily
relinquished his first impulse, and stood upright before
them with a bold, but calm look.
"What you want with boat?" asked the corporal, almost
involuntarily, and without the slightest expectation that
his question would be understood.
"Me want 'em cross," replied the Indian, pointing to the
opposite woods.
"But why you come in bear skin?" and, in his turn, the
corporal pointed with his finger in the direction in
which the supposed bear had been seen.
"Ugh!" grunted the savage doggedly, finding that he had
been detected in his disguise.
"What nation you?--Pottawattamie?"
"Wah! Pottawattamie!"
"Curious enough," pursued the corporal, addressing himself
to his comrades.
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