(here he chuckled), "dat he de gen'l'm' couldn' come to meet her to-night, on accoun' o' de ole man his bossy wot hab gib him somethin'

'tickler to do. He send ole Crookleg to tell her dat, and gib her sometin' what I've got hyar in my pocket, he! he! he!"

Saying these words, the monster made a series of movements, having in view the discovery of his pocket.

After a most elaborate and vigorous search for its aperture among the mult.i.tudinous rags, he succeeded in finding it. Then, plunging his long right arm therein up to the elbow, he drew forth a small parcel wrapped in white paper, and tied with a string of dazzling beads.

With another acrobatic bound, he handed it to the trembling girl.

"Dere it am, safe and soun'. Dis ole n.i.g.g.a nebba lose nuffin and offen find a good deal. Dat, says de gen'l'm', is for de most lubbly of her seek, de Missy Sansuta."

The tender look accompanying this speech was something hideous to behold.

Sansuta hesitated before taking the parcel from him, as if in doubt whether she should not decline it.

"Da! take it," urged he; "'tain't nuffin as'll go off and hurt ye; dis n.i.g.g.a kin swar to dat!"

Not so much this friendly a.s.surance as a resolution the girl had come to, decided her.

She stretched forth her hand and took the package.

This done, she essayed once more to move past the negro in order to return to the hill.

Crookleg, however, still blocking up the path, made no movement to give way to her.

He had evidently something more to say.

"Lookee hyar," he continued, "I war bid to tell the lubbly Injun lady that the gen'l'm'n wud be at dis berry spot to-morrow mornin' early to meet her, and I war 'tickler told say dat it war private, and not to be told no 'quisitive folks wat might want to know. Now I think," here Crookleg took off his tattered hat and scratched his wool. "Yes! dats all dis n.i.g.g.a war tole to say--yes, dats all."

Without waiting for a reply, the monstrosity made a pirouette, then a bound, and disappeared so suddenly, that he was gone before Sansuta could recover from her surprise.

Once a.s.sured that she was alone, the maiden hastened to untie the bead-string around the package, and lay bare its contents.

Her glance fell upon a pair of showy ear-rings, and affixed to them a small slip of paper.

Though but an Indian maiden, the chief's daughter had learnt to read.

By the last glimpse of departing twilight she read what was written on the paper.

There were but two words--

"From Warren."

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

THE COUNCIL.

Oluski's entrance into the council-house was the signal for all eyes to turn towards him.

Slowly and with dignity he traversed the s.p.a.ce between the door and the seat reserved for him, at the upper end of the hall.

Once there he turned around, bowed gravely to the a.s.sembled warriors, and then took his seat.

Pipes were now lighted, and gourds filled with honey and water handed around.

Oluski declined the latter, but lighted one of the pipes, and for some time watched, as if in reverie, the circling of the smoke.

The silence that ensued upon the old chief's entrance continued for several minutes. At length a young warrior, opposite to him, rose and spoke--

"Will our chief tell his brothers why they are called together, and what is it that makes him thoughtful and silent? We will hear and advise-- let Oluski speak!"

After this brief address, the young man resumed his seat, while those around the circle murmured their a.s.sent to what he had said.

Thus solicited, Oluski arose, and spoke as follows:--

"It is not unknown to many of our warriors now present that I was deputed by the elder brothers and themselves many years since to go to the pale-faces in Georgia to settle some old disputes about lands sold by our people to them, and about which wicked men of both races had caused quarrels and bloodshed. I departed on my errand, went to the great town where their council-house stands, spoke truth, and made new treaties with them. All this I did, and our people were pleased!"

A chorus of voices ratified the chief's statement.

"It may be remembered that I made new friends with some of the pale-faces, and concluded treaties, founded on justice, which gave to our people property they needed in exchange for lands which we did not require."

Renewed signals of a.s.sent.

"To one pale-face more than to others I was under bonds of grat.i.tude.

He did me great service when I required it, and I promised to repay him.

An Indian chief never breaks his word. I gave to that man some of the lands left to me by my fathers. These are the lands upon which the white settlement now stands. The pale-face I speak of was Elias Rody!"

The voices of the a.s.sembled warriors were silent. An eager look of expectancy was all the answer Oluski received at mention of Rody's name.

The old chief continued.

"To-day Elias Rody came here and talked with me. He told me that the hour had arrived when I could do him a great service, and again prove myself grateful for the aid he had afforded me. I told him to speak out. He did so. I listened. He said the colony he had founded was prosperous, but there was one thing he still desired; and that was the favour he came to ask. Twice before he had spoken of it. This time he required a final answer. His demand was more than I could of myself grant. I told him so. For this reason have I called you into council.

I will lay his wish before you. It is for you to decide."

Oluski paused to give opportunity for any one who chose to make a remark.

None was made, but the listeners looked around them, as if trying to read each other's thoughts.

The chief proceeded.

"What the white man wants is to buy from us this hill upon which our habitations are built."

A chorus of angry, dissentient voices greeted the proposal.

"Hear me out," continued Oluski, "and then decide."

Silence ensued as sudden as the noisy interruption.