"Yes, but bress your soul! de Injines wan't about den."
"I guess there were as many as there are this minute."
"Oh! gracious! I don't want to go alone. What made ye ax me dat queshun?"
"Why, I thought this, Cato. You see I expect Oonomoo to return to this place by nightfall, when I intend to accompany him to the Shawnee village where Miss Mary is held captive——"
"Goin' to git her?"
"We hope to. I was going to propose that you should make your way to the settlement and carry the news of this sad affair to Mrs. Prescott and her daughter, assuring her that the Huron and myself will do all we can to rescue Mary. They must have seen the light, last night, and no doubt are dreadfully anxious to learn whether it was their mansion or not. Besides, I doubt whether the Huron will be willing that you should accompany us."
"Why won't he? I guess Cato knows enough to take care of his self. Allus has done it. Done it last night."
"We will let the matter rest until his return. It shall be as he says."
"What time 'spect him?"
"In the course of a few hours. In the meantime, there is another matter that must be attended to. Do you know whether there is a spade or shovel lying about?"