king, and look upon money 'arned in this way as being
as likely to pass as money 'arned in trapping or hunting."

"I've no such feelin', nor any wish to harbor it, not I," returned
the other. "My gifts are not scalpers' gifts, but such as belong to my
religion and color. I'll stand by you, old man, in the ark or in the
castle, the canoe or the woods, but I'll not unhumanize my natur' by
falling into ways that God intended for another race. If you and
Hurry have got any thoughts that lean towards the colony's gold, go by
yourselves in s'arch of it, and leave the females to my care. Much as I
must differ from you both on all gifts that do not properly belong to a
white man, we shall agree that it is the duty of the strong to take
care of the weak, especially when the last belong to them that natur'
intended man to protect and console by his gentleness and strength."

"Hurry Harry, that is a lesson you might learn and practise on to some
advantage," said the sweet, but spirited voice of Judith, from the
cabin; a proof that she had over-heard all that had hitherto been said.

"No more of this, Jude," called out the father angrily. "Move farther
off; we are about to talk of matters unfit for a woman to listen to."

Hutter did not take any steps, however, to ascertain whether he
was obeyed or not; but dropping his voice a little, he pursued the
discourse.

"The young man is right, Hurry," he said; "and we can leave the children
in his care. Now, my idea is just this; and I think you'll agree that it
is rational and correct. There's a large party of these savages on shore
and, though I didn't tell it before the girls, for they're womanish,
and apt to be troublesome when anything like real work is to be done,
there's women among 'em. This I know from moccasin prints; and 't is
likely they are hunters, after all, who have been out so long that they
know nothing of the war, or of the bounties."

"In which case, old Tom, why was their first salute an attempt to cut
our throats?"

"We don't know that their design was so bloody. It's natural and easy
for an Indian to fall into ambushes and surprises; and, no doubt they
wished to get on board the ark first, and to make their conditions
afterwards. That a disapp'inted savage should fire at us, is in rule;
and I think nothing of that. Besides, how often they burned me out,
and robbed my traps--ay, and pulled trigger on me, in the most peaceful
times?"

"The blackguards will do