“They are yours,” replied Black-Hawk. “An Indian chief knows how to be just.”
“Now then, Captain Charles Melton, you are in my power; do you understand, in my power! You shall rue the day when you dared come between me and the woman I love.”
“What do you mean, renegade?” replied the young scout. “I never wronged you in my life.”
“Perhaps; we shall see how it turns out. Keep them safe, boys; set a double guard upon them, and for your lives, let none escape. Ah, my good, valiant, chivalric Joe, how you will repent having raised your hand against me.”
“I do repent, Will,” said Joe, quietly. “I repent most awfully. I ought to have lifted yer ha’r on the spot, by gracious. ’Twould have served you just right, and saved a good deal of trouble.”
“Take them away, boys, take them away. Ha; don’t let the girl speak to them or she will contrive some way to set them free. Look out for Minneoba above all others, for she is as cute as the devil. Miss Sadie, do I deceive myself when I think that you will not now disdain to hold some conversation with me?”
“What do you wish to say to me, sir?” replied Sadie, who saw the dreadful peril of her friends, and wished to save them if possible.
“Say to Black-Hawk that you wish to speak to me apart from the rest and he will give you permission. I see a way in which you can save these men.”
She spoke to the chief, who nodded kindly, and she followed Black Will a little distance from the camp.
“That is far enough,” she said, pausing under a great tree. “What have you to say to me?”