“Yes, I was sure of it,” said Malachi. “It was well that I did not go back without you. After all, in the woods, a man’s no man without his rifle.”
Chapter Thirty Five.
John’s Danger.
Martin was right when he stated that he perceived the form of the Angry Snake under the shade of the trees. The chief was then watching what occurred, and had been witness to the capture of his emissary, and, following those who had the Young Otter in charge, saw him conveyed to the fort. In the meantime, Malachi, Martin, and Alfred went home, without any suspicion being raised among the other branches of the family of what had occurred. This gave them great satisfaction.
“Well, Malachi,” said Alfred the next morning, as they were all busily employed getting the seed into the cleared land, “what do you imagine will be the steps now taken by the Angry Snake?”
“It’s hard to say, sir,” replied Malachi; “for he well deserves the name of a snake, if, as the Scripture says, it is the subtlest thing on earth: he will try all he can, you may be sure; and if it were not that he is afraid of us, he would attack us immediately; but that I have no idea that he will venture upon.”
“No, for your letter says that he has only two rifles in his band, which are not enough to give him any chance of success.”
“Very true, sir. I hear that the bateaux are coming from the fort for the plank and flour.”