"
"Yaw, I knows him, and he knows me too, and we both knows each oder, so
dat we are acquainted. Well, dat shentleman is hid off in de woods
near here, and he has sent me in to l'arn what I cans about you."
The prisoner kept back the joyful exclamation that came to her lips,
and said:
"Tell him that I am unharmed and hopeful, and trust that while he
interests himself in me, he will not run into danger."
"Not run into danger!" repeated Hans Vanderbum; "dat is what Oonomoo
lives on. He'd die in a week if he wan't into danger, out of grief.
He don't do notting else; it's what he was made for," he added, growing
enthusiastic in speaking of the Huron.
"I know he is a brave and true-hearted Indian, and is greatly esteemed
by the Moravian missionaries. He hesitates at no risk when his friends
are in danger."
"Ef he does run risk dey don't catch him, 'cause he knows how to run
and fight, and ish shmarter dan de Shawnees. Where ish your parents?"
"My mother and sister happened to be absent on a visit to Falsington,
which is fifteen or twenty miles distant from our place, while father,
who is a Captain, is doing service somewhere on the frontier, in the
American army. How thankful indeed I am that dear mother and Helen
were away, for they have escaped this terrible captivity."
"You washn't left all alone?"
"Oh, no; there were several servants, and I saw them tomahawked, and
heard their piercing cries.
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