."

"_Ce n'est rien_, Ahneota says come."

Under the circumstances Rodney decided to run the risk, for evidently
the little chap was the only friend he had found, so he said, "Well,
you don't want me killed, do you?"

"_Non._ I will have you to play with me. Ahneota is my friend. He will
give you to me."

They went to a wigwam at the farther end of the village and found
awaiting them an old chief. He was tall and gaunt. His face was long,
the nose sharply aquiline, and his eyes were as keen and bright as
those of a youth. The chief's manner was very, dignified, even stern.
Louis began his plea, but was ordered to call the Indian, Caughnega.
Then, turning to Rodney, the chief asked: "Why come to Indian country
and kill game? White man's game below big river."

Rodney hesitated. What could he say? He feared to confess that he
already had escaped from Indians, it would not be a helpful
introduction, to say the least; neither would he lie.

"I was lost and hungry. The bear was hungry, too. I had to shoot," he
finally said.

The searching look of the Indian embarrassed him.

"The pigeon dropped by the eagle spoke not truth but said he fell."

Rodney flushed under the fierce gaze of the bright eyes of the aged
chief. Then lifting his head he resolutely replied: "I have told you
the truth, but not all of it. I am here through no fault of my own and
am trying to get back to the big river and my people."

"The big river is many days' journey. There is blood on the pigeon,"
replied Ahneota, pointing to Rodney's wrists, which yet bore the marks
of the thongs with which he had been bound.

"That is the work of Indians. I was on my way down the Ohio to meet my
father near the Great Kanawha. The party I was with landed for supper
and was attacked by Indians, who killed some and made me a prisoner. I
escaped from them and am here. Neither I nor my father ever wronged an
Indian."

"The land north of the big river belongs to the Indian. The Great
Father gave it to the Indian and the palefaces smoked the pipe of
peace with the red man. Now they would come and kill our game and the
red man must die."

"Our party was not seeking land north of the river when the Indians
cruelly attacked us."

"The Wyandottes are at peace with the Shawnees and do not take away
their captives."

"You all are at peace with the whites and have no right to make me a
prisoner," was Rodney's reply, so boldly spoken he feared its effect
might b