"A small hog or two and a beef-critter? Do you mean to eat the provisions of the entire garrison at a single meal?"
"'Tain't much of a garrison that don't eat no more nor that! All right; then bring me a loaf of bread and a ham, and I'll show you how tew eat."
Captain Floyd laughed, and led the way into the house through the open gate of the stockade. The Yankee had picked up a stick on the bank and was whittling away dexterously, whistling in the minor clef, but keeping his eyes about him nevertheless. He shook his head when he saw the gates off the hinges, and muttered to himself. Floyd turned upon him quickly.
"What are you growling about there? Let me know at once."
"Git eout! Waal, if yew must know, I was thinking what a darned good pertection a gate is to a house when it's off the hinges, standing ag'in' the wall."
"You are inclined to be sarcastic, and are more observing than I gave you credit for. To tell the truth up to this time we have been in no danger. The Shawnees have been friendly, and Tecumseh himself has eaten in our house. The Prophet was here only last week."
"Who?"
"The Prophet; the brother of Tecumseh, who has built a town upon the upper Wabash near Tippecanoe."
"I dunno much about it, but it seems to me I did hear summers that that Prophet is a treacherous old cuss," said Seth.
"I have heard the same, but he appeared very friendly."