“Why didn’t you tell Bill? Like as not he’ll be shot and scalped before he gets back.”
“I did not think it best,” I returned. “Biddon is not the man to walk into danger with his eyes shut, and if there is any cause for fear, he will discover it soon enough.”
“Suppose he will; but ain’t it terrible?”
“Isn’t what terrible?”
“Why, that we’re surrounded by Injins, thirsting for our blood!”
“We are not surrounded by Indians, Nat,” I returned, reprovingly.
“I know; but then they are all around us. It won’t do to stick our heads out, except at night, and then, like as not, we’ll be shot for our trouble.”
“You are not afraid, I hope.”
“Oh, no! not a bit; but then you know it’s rather unpleasant to feel that those infarnal Blackfeet (because this is the country of the Blackfeet Injins) are all about you, and waiting for a chance to shoot you from behind every bush.”
“Nat,” I commenced, earnestly, “you say you are not afraid of Indians, and yet you show it in every word, look, and action. There is no excuse for this. I saw only two savages, and a girl, evidently a captive; no words or actions were exchanged between us. They disappeared very suddenly and were, more probably, frightened at my presence. I see nothing in this to excuse the excitement and terror you have exhibited.”