Brito nodded and turned away. As he went Jack felt the iron grip of the braves tighten upon his arms, forcing him forward.
He went willingly enough. He had learned that Alagwa was there, in the camp, and he swore to himself that not Tecumseh nor Brito nor all the devils from h—l should prevent his reaching her.
Coolly he faced the red chieftain. “The great chief came to me far in the south,” he said, deliberately. “He called me and I came a long trail to meet him. He did not wait for me, and I have followed him here to receive from him the Star maiden, my kinswoman, the daughter of Delaroche. Will the great chief send for her?”
Long Tecumseh stared the young man in the face. At last his lips moved. “The young white chief is brave,” he said.
Jack shrugged his shoulders. He had spoken as he did in the hope of startling his captor. He had no intention of pushing the pretense too far. “The white chief seeks his wife,” he said, deliberately. “He believes she is in Tecumseh’s camp. He comes to demand her.”
Tecumseh’s face grew even grimmer. “Does the white chief come for that alone?” he asked. “Or does he come to spy out the camp of his foes? Make answer, Te-pwe, he who speaks true.”
Jack looked the chief in the eyes. He knew that deception was useless and he was in no mood to try it. “Tecumseh may judge for himself,” he said. “Let the great chief do with me as he will. But first let him tell me whether my wife is with him and whether she is safe.”
Tecumseh’s brows went up. “Why need the white chief seek his wife,” he demanded. “What wrong has he done her that she has fled from him?”
Jack shrugged his shoulders. “I have done her no wrong,” he said. “Why she has left me I do not know. I was ill and when I recovered she had gone with emissaries sent by Tecumseh. Perhaps she went because he sent for her. Perhaps she went because her ears were filled with lies. Much I have guessed but little do I know. Perhaps the great chief knows better than I why she went.”
Tecumseh did not answer at once. His fierce eyes bored into Jack’s as though they would read the young man’s soul. Jack thought his expression was softer, but when he spoke his voice was as chill as ever.