“As the sun went down.”
“Where is the Sagamore of Saco?”
“He leads the expedition.”
Acashee walked back and forth, and then stooped over the couch of Hope, and listened. Apparently she slept, for she returned to the council-fire.
It may be that the effort at concealment had been too great for the nerves of Hope, for hardly had the woman turned away when a low sound, like a human wail, escaped from the couch. Acashee again bent over the recumbent form, but there was no sign of consciousness, no winking of the eye, no perturbation. The panther rolled himself over, stretched out his claws, and threw back his head, showing his long, red tongue and glittering teeth, and uttered a yawn so nearly a howl, that the woman believed the sounds identical, and the warriors resumed their discussion.
“In an hour the moon will set,” said Acashee.
“Our young warriors lean upon their arms. When the moon is down we light a fire above the falls, at Still-Water. This will be the signal for the Terrentines to join us. They will there leave their canoes in the hands of the women, and join our warriors on the bank below. The fire will warn our people how near to approach the falls, for the night will be dark.”
“It is well planned,” said Acashee.
“Has Wa-ain (White Spirit) spoken?” asked an old chief.
“She has had a vision of battle.”