"The young brave is right; they have escaped," said Whirlwind. "The Tabagauches would have scalped the white chief had they taken him."
"You always said you did not believe in dreams," said Jane, upon whose imagination it seemed to have considerable influence.
"Neither do I, generally. But now, even a dream of freedom and friends is gratifying, and I cannot help feeling elated by it."
"The Great Spirit visited the white man in his slumber. Believe what he showed to thy slumbering spirit, lest he be angry and destroy thee," said Whirlwind earnestly.
"Really, Whirlwind, it is as absurd as singular," remarked Edward, "and is taxing credulity too much to ask an implicit confidence in it."
"The brave is young, and cannot interpret the signs of the presence of the Great Spirit. His children know him better, and recognize his teaching."
"Oh! well, chief, I hope he is in earnest now, at least, and will succeed in getting us out of the clutches of these promising children of his," said Edward.
"Then the young brave must not anger him," returned the chief, solemnly.
"I should like to know how far we are from camp, and how much farther they intend taking us," said the trapper.
"Their village is half a day's march to the setting sun," replied Whirlwind, "and we evidently are from six to seven days' journey from our camp."