“I see that you intend to make a business transaction of the affair,” replied Butler, carelessly receiving the jewels, which, however, he scrutinized with a closeness which betrayed a rapacious interest in their worth.
Catharine placed the casket in his hands with a smile of keen contempt.
“After you are fully satisfied of their value, this reverend man will receive them in trust. He has my sanction to deliver them to you three weeks from this day, should the draft which you hold in your hand remain at the time unpaid. Are you content with this arrangement?”
“I know little of the value of jewels,” replied Butler, slowly closing the casket, “but should suppose that these might be sufficient security for the money.”
“Perhaps this gentleman’s opinion will satisfy your doubts,” and taking the casket from Butler’s hand, Catharine again touched the spring and held it before the missionary.
“No, no; I am not a judge,” exclaimed the missionary, drawing back in his chair and pushing the casket away; but after a moment he looked up more composedly and said: “Excuse me, lady, I need not examine the jewels; from what I saw of them in the young gentleman’s hand, I am certain that they are worth more than the sum named.”
“Are you convinced?” said Catharine, again turning to Butler.
“Perfectly—let the ceremony proceed.”
With a kingly gesture, the chief lifted the bear-skin again, and taking Tahmeroo by the hand, led her out upon the turf in front of her mother’s lodge. Here a scene of wild grandeur presented itself. The whole encampment was surrounded by warriors in full costume, and glittering with arms. The Shawnees had risen from their council-fires, and moved in single file through the woods to the foot of Campbell’s Ledge. Here they wound themselves, rank after rank, round the encampment, till the chief and his family were hedged in by a living wall. Those in the front rank held torches of pitch pine knots kindled at the dying council-brands, which flamed up in one vast girdle of fire, lighting up the savages in their gorgeous dresses, the dense forest trees in the background, and throwing smoky gleams on the bold face of the ledge itself.
The eyes of the Shawnee chief flamed up with natural triumph as he stood upon the forest sward, which those broad lights were turning to gold under his feet, and, with a wave of his hand, motioned Butler to his side.