A band of Red Indians, R., scouting. The leading scout suddenly signals to the others to halt and hide, and remains himself keenly looking ahead. The Patrol Leader creeps nearer to him, and they speak in a loud whisper.
Patrol Leader (Eagle's Wing). Ho! Silver Fox! What dost thou see?
Silver Fox (the leading scout). My leader, I saw but just now a strange figure ahead—but for the moment I see it not. There was an Indian, one of the hated Assock tribe, and close by him was a being who looked like a man yet not a man. He wore no feathers, no war paint. But his body was all hidden in skins or cloths, and his head was covered with a huge kind of protector. He had, it is true, two arms and legs, but his face was of a horrible colour—not bronze like ours, but an awful white, like that of a dead man, and half covered with a bush of hair.
Eagle's Wing. It must be either a medicine man or devil.
Silver Fox (still gazing ahead). Look there, he moves! (Patrol Leader springs forward and crouches near Silver Fox.) Close to yonder birch tree. What is it he carries? A heavy shining staff of iron. See he is pointing at those ducks with it. Ah!
(Report of gun in the distance.)
Patrol Leader. Scouts! There is the devil before us. He spits fire and smoke from an iron staff.
Silver Fox. Aye, and see how the birds fall dead before him.
Patrol Leader. Yes, he is a very devil. What a prize for us if we can kill him and take his scalp.
Scouts. Nay, nay. He is a devil. He will kill us!