"If the Indians would only leave us free!"
"But they will not," broke in Henry. "They say white people not make any more settlements, and it not long before they drive out those that are here."
"Let them try!" said Israel dryly.
"They have been trying," remarked Peleg. "There is not a day that we have not seen some signs of the Shawnees or Delawares prowling around the forts."
"They have not made any open attack for some time now," suggested Israel Boone.
Henry shook his head as he said: "That means they only wait. Pretty soon you see. They feel for white men like wolf feel for bear."
"And that is about the same love that a dog has for a cat," suggested Peleg with a laugh.
"That is it," acknowledged Henry soberly. "I never know why bear and wolf no like each other. They kill many other things, but when wolf find trail of bear he call to all his friends and they begin to chase Mr. Bear. One day I saw a pack of wolves chasing big bear."
"Was the bear running from them?" inquired Israel.
"Yes, he run much fast. By and by he come to place where he can go no more, then he stand up with his back to tree, and the way he cuff those wolves first one side, then on other, make me laugh."