The Peddler Spy

they might ask awkward questions. The Nipmuck country proper was further north than Windsor; but one of their villages, not a stationary one, stood not far away. This was the village of Wamps

led. The party which came, if stronger than Wampset, found only warm ashes in the ruined lodges; but the Nipmucks had flown. Wampset claim

age, he took careful note of every thicket near which he passed. All at once, the woods seemed alive with signals, and stealthy footsteps could be heard. Carl knew

here? He is far from the s

fore the eyes of the man. He started a l

pon the belt," said Car

6

e did the whi

the chief, Wampset, that I m

nderstood signal, for the sound of retiring footsteps could b

, and by his enemies when he chooses to be fo

he

st, in an impressive and graceful gesture. C

ave the land to his people. But the English people of Shawmut have come and built a strong house upon the river. The you

hief

l Yengees. They will not go away if they can help it. B

at the three hills, near the str

he young man come

nsisted of huts formed only for summer weath

d boiled venison, and the other parched corn. Flat, wooden dishes of the same material as the rest, were placed in their hands, and the two made a hearty meal, for the young man was tired by his long rid

the village. He found the warriors making pr

abins cold in wi

aid the other. "There are pleasant places high up among the hills, where the

stay in one

me upon his lodges in the night; but, Wampset is not a fool. He knows when to hide, and when to be

ever fig

ck to their lodges. But when we are weak and they are strong, we hide in the bush.

ve the white chi

are brave, and they are Indians. Is the white man owner of the soil? Did he receive it as an inheritance? No; it is the land of the Indian. Pequod or Narragansett, Mo

go out toward the fort, and you must follow with your braves.

it upon that of his young friend. "The[66] Nipmuck doesn't live," said

. He mounted and rode away toward the east. Wampset looked after him with a half-sigh, for

de, nothing was too much to do for the man who had saved his life. To risk his own seemed to him a duty which he must perform. Young as he was, he was a fit tool for such work as Joseph Van Zandt assigned him. He had fled from the old

he place without fear, as there had been no open rupture between the commandants of the two posts.

the young German was an active scout, and thought nothing of the story. Willie and Boston Bainbridge had not yet come in. After finding out all he cared to know, Carl rode away toward Good Hope, upon the trail usua

st as their feet would carry them toward Windsor. Boston's knowledge of the proposed

ile they were pursuing us from the

ndescribable twist of his features, "

ervation. W

g man of war," said Boston. "I can not fight with ca

at the manner in which you have kept this character, until I am near

Dutch driven out of the valley, I am nothing but Boston Bai

Van Zandt heard you to-night, I am sure. Katrine and Theresa

ve her. But it must all come right sometime. When she is

rain? Oh, I would give fifty pounds to see his face at the time. This rain will wash every grain of color off from his hide, and

sudden, that he was close to the side of the would-be assassin before he could turn. Carl was no coward. His courage had been proved in a hundred different ways. Drawing his knife, he made a sudden rush at the hawker, and struck at him viciously with the keen blade. Boston nimbly eluded the stroke and returned it by a slashing blow, which laid open the cheek of the other, marking him for life. As

Willie came up. "He got to his ho

he h

. The scoundrel. He will carry my mark to the grave.

ver seen h

was meant for you. How could he miss, when he was not thirty feet away? The miserable scoundrel belongs i

. It was a deep flesh-wound, and Boston shook his head. Going down to the river bank, he gathered some le

n told me about it, and tried it on a bear-scratch I once got

which the other improvised from a sword-belt. "I will[69] yet ha

ainst him; but a sneaking fellow like this, who would shoot you from behind a bush, is more to be feared. H

they will c

Carl was doing here. He certainly was not sent out on purpose

t where he

re i

ter you left, told us where he was. I know that man. He is an outcast from all tribes, and yet

ty of Sassacus, nor the supercilious behavior of Mennawan. But this news troubles me. I doubt not he will come to the aid of the Dutch, for I have he

uch to dread, if Wampset

e at the post whe

n of the Narragans

med. Let us hasten. Do you t

ould until th

Make

ton called him, and asked him if the "Fox" was yet in the post. Being ans

7

de, bestowing a smile of recognition upon a young Indian, who was comin

with his open palm. "How long will it be before he will give the tribe into the hands of

riors hope it will be many years before he lays down the wampum of a head ch

young chief has often said that he only waits to

unwilling to aid h

ke him into

; the forest

t keen, for the Pequods

tt does not f

now let the

aving thoroughly mastered it and acquiesced in the service, he took his weapons, tigh