Part 8 (1/2)
”Ahneota has one brother. He left the palefaces and is an Indian.”
The boy understood this to mean that he might, by forsaking his people, find safety as a member of the tribe. Every tie of affection bound him to his own people. He knew, moreover, that if an adopted member of the tribe ever deserted it the offence was regarded as a most serious one; that on the contrary he would be expected, if need be, to fight against his own people. He made no reply.
”Will paleface be Ahneota's brother?”
Thought of home almost brought tears to the boy's eyes. He gulped down his emotion, for he knew the Indians look with contempt on any display of one's feelings.
”It would be deserting my people,” he finally replied. ”My father and mother and sister are living. I thank you for the--the kindness. I hope you will permit me to go to them. My people are at peace with your people.”
”The palefaces speak words of peace but their deeds are war.”
There was silence for a few moments and then the old chief spoke with Rodney's captor. They talked in the Indian tongue. Little Louis, standing by, evidently knew what they were saying, for, as the Indian who claimed Rodney spoke more loudly, he interrupted, claiming, as afterward appeared, that the prisoner was his, that he had first seen him and wanted him for a playmate.
The old Indian did not speak for a time, evidently being puzzled what to do. Then, addressing Rodney, he said: ”Young paleface will not be the Indian's brother; he cannot find his way to the big river. He may share the Indian's lodge and meat.” Saying this he turned and entered his lodge.
”Come.”
It was Louis who spoke and, taking Rodney by the hand, he led him away, while Caughnega, with a sullen look on his face, went his way.
Louis was a handsome little fellow, affectionate in his manner and delighted with his success in obtaining a new playfellow. As they went along they met one that at first Rodney thought to be an Indian but on closer inspection decided was a white man; the fellow was, in fact, none other than Conrad, whose capture has already been related.
”Ah, Conrad! _mon ami_. I have a new friend,” exclaimed Louis.
”I suppose you are one of his old ones,” remarked Rodney with a smile.
Conrad made no reply, but looked inquiringly while Louis rattled off an account of the events of the morning.
The news did not appear to be agreeable to Conrad, who walked away without comment; but the little fellow was too full of the novelty of his experiences to heed Conrad's manner, and they went on to a lodge on the edge of the village and Louis led his companion into where, seated on a bear skin, was a woman weaving mats out of rushes. She looked up quickly, and Rodney saw at a glance that she was superior to any Indian women he had ever seen, evidently a half-breed. The blanket she wore and her surroundings looked clean, and her face showed intelligence much beyond the ordinary; but there was something in the look she gave him that warned Rodney she would be his implacable enemy.
The little fellow's tongue ran on in a mingled jargon of French, Indian and English and Rodney comprehended, rather from the looks and gestures of the woman and child than from the words, that Louis was determined the newcomer should live with them, while she objected, whereat Louis began to wail imperiously, and the glance of dislike she gave Rodney was not rea.s.suring.
”I will build a lodge, you can show me how to do it, and then you can have one more home to go to,” said Rodney, trying to soothe the troubled feelings. This idea pleased Louis, who dried his eyes and was for beginning on it right away, but ”Maman,” as he called the half-breed woman, did not appear to like this plan any better than the first, and her beady eyes snapped ominously; but she said nothing.
Rodney wished he might lie down on one of the clean mats before him and sleep, for he was so tired he scarcely could keep awake even while walking. He shrank from asking the woman for a place to sleep, but finally did so, and she grunted a.s.sent.
While Rodney slept the sleep of exhaustion, Louis went in search of Conrad, and asked him to build his new friend a wigwam.
Conrad scowled and replied that the new boy wouldn't live long enough to need it, and Louis cried, ”They can't kill him, Ahneota won't let them.”
”Vat for you vant him, yet? Conrad your friend is.”
”I want him, too; he's white like Jules. Papa said: 'Jules is a good boy and you may play with him all day.' You don't play with me all the time, but go away hunting and will not let me go, too.”
”He need will have to eat, und to hunt, I tink, alretty.”
Louis was so insistent that Conrad finally a.s.sisted him in cutting poles for the proposed wigwam and setting them in place. By this time Rodney, who had been waked by the woman, joined them and worked as hard as his sore muscles would permit. By night he had a shelter of bark and boughs. Louis brought a mat and there the weary captive lay down for the night, hungry and sore. Later, the little fellow brought him some dried venison and showed him the spring that supplied the village with drinking water.
The following morning Rodney chanced to see the half-breed, ”Maman,”
as Louis called her, though Rodney felt sure she was not his mother, talking very earnestly with Caughnega and their talk ceased when he approached, which aroused his suspicion. He made inquiries of Louis and learned that Caughnega was the ”medicine man” of the village and possessed influence. Ahneota was the more influential and the boy shrewdly guessed that Caughnega was jealous.