o Monakatocka, 'Find me that
man and kill him, and to the twenty arms' length of roanoke which the
county will pay to Monakatocka, I will add a gun with store of powder,
and with a bullet for every stag between Werowocomico and Machot.' When
he heard you a long way off, moving over the leaves, trying to make no
sound, Monakatocka thought he held the gun of the paleface Major in his
hand. But now--" he waved his hand with a gesture eloquent of
resignation.

"I am sorry to disappoint you," said Landless, amused at his air of calm
regret.

"I am glad to have proved the strength of my brother," was the
sententious reply. "Where goes my brother through the woods, which are
full of danger to him to-night? Or has he a pass?"

"I have business at Rosemead," answered Landless. "I am close to the
house, I think?"

The Indian pointed through the trees. "It lies twelve bowshots before
you. The overseer with the dogs has gone to the great swamp to look for
the man with the red hair."

"Thanks for the information, friend," said Landless. "I ask you,
moreover, to say nothing of this encounter. I have no pass."

"I have but one friend," answered the Indian. "His secret is my secret."

"Are you, too, then, so lonely?" asked Landless, touched by his tone.

"Listen," said the Indian, leaning his back against a great oak. "I will
tell my brother who I am.... Many years ago the Conestogas, they whom
the palefaces call the Susquehannocks, came down the great bay and
fought with the palefaces. Monakatocka was then but a lad on his first
warpath. Agreskoi was angry: he hid his face behind a cloud. With their
guns the palefaces beat the Conestogas like fleeing women back to their
village on the banks of a great river, and themselves returned in
triumph to their board wigwams, bearing with them many captives.
Monakatocka, son to a great chief, was one. The palefaces made him to
work like a squaw in their fields of tobacco and maize. When he ran away
they put forth a long arm and plucked him back and beat him. Agreskoi
was angry, for Monakatocka had not any offering to make him. One by one
his fellow captives have dropped away like the leaves that fall in the
moon of Taquetock, until, behold! he is left alone. The palefaces are
his enemies. He thinks of the village beside the pleasant stream, and he
hates them. A warrior of the long house takes no friend from the wigwam
of an Algonquin. Monakatocka is alone."

He spoke with a wild path