He experienced little difficulty in
finding it, and in a few moments was back again to his affectionate
partner.
"How did you get wet?" she asked, looking at his flapping garments.
"Dem little Dutchmen done it; dey fixed de limb and made it proke and
let me down in de water and almost drownded. Quanonshet and
Madokawandock will be de death of deir poor dad."
The wife vouchsafed no reply, but jerking the fish from his hand,
entered the wigwam for the purpose of cooking them, while Hans
Vanderbum himself went lounging on through the village, it being his
purpose not to seem too anxious and hurried in his effort to gain his
news regarding the captive. He was, despite his stupidity, not devoid
of sagacity at times.
He had not long to search. In the very center of the town, his eyes
fell upon a promiscuous crowd collected around a wigwam, gazing at
something within.
"Vot you got dere?" he demanded, in a tone of great indignation, as he
shoved his way through the bystanders. Those addressed made no reply,
waiting for him to satisfy his curiosity by seeing the object for
himself. In the interior, he descried a young woman, or rather a girl,
for she could scarcely have been more than fifteen or sixteen years of
age, seated upon the ground, beside a squaw, with whom it was apparent
she had been endeavoring to hold a conversation; but, finding it
impossible in the ignorance of each other's language, they had ceased
their efforts by common consent and were now sitting motionless.
Pages:
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35