They have brought myself here to perish in captivity."
"Yaw, de Shawnees ish great on _dat_ business. 'Cause I shneezed dey
cotched me once and brought me here to perish in captivity mit
yourself," said Hans Vanderbum, in a feeling voice.
"Are you a prisoner, also?" asked the captive, in considerable surprise.
"Yaw, but I _likes_ it! I's got a wife, Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock,
dat is de same shape all de way down, and a little Dutchman,
Madokawandock; so dey hasn't to watch, like I shpose dey will have to
you."
"Can any of these around me understand English?" asked the girl, in a
low tone.
"No; de women don't know notting about it, except my wife, and she
ain't here; and de men know notink. You needn't be afraid to say
anything you pleases to me."
"You could not betray me," added the girl, turning her dark, soulful
eyes anxiously full upon him.
"No, no," he replied, energetically. "Voot's your name?"
"Mary Prescott."
"How fur does you live from here--dat is, how fur did you live?"
"It must be over thirty miles, in an eastern direction, I think."
"Does you know Oonomoo?"
Hans Vanderbum asked the question in a lower tone, for the name was
well known to all present.
"A Huron Indian? Oh, yes; I know him well," replied the captive; her
countenance lighting up. "He was well remembered in our neighborhood,
and was a true friend to us all. Do you know him too? Though I
suppose of course you do, from your asking me the question.
Pages:
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37