“It does appear a hard case for the red-man, I must admit,” he rejoined; “but I don’t see how you are going to help it. Government lays out these railroads, and they must be built. You can’t stop them.”
“You will see,” replied the Prophet, darkly. “Your party dare not advance after the warning I have given them.”
“Perhaps not; but they will remain where they are.”
“I will drive them into the river!”
“I do not think you can do so, even with your force. You are not more than four to one against them, and they have fortified their position by this time, and the officer, in command of the soldiers, and the surveyors are brave and determined men. A victory will cost you dear.”
These words seemed to impress the chief. He walked moodily backward and forward, for a few moments, in deep thought.
“I must not risk my warriors’ lives,” he muttered. “I promised them an easy victory, and a defeat would shake their faith in me. Already I have lost six braves, and only those boy captives to show against their loss. I must be cautious in my future movements.”
He paused in his walk before Percy Vere, and began to interrogate him again:
“Do you think, if I was to send you back to your party with the assurance that they will not be permitted to advance another foot into this land, that they would abandon their undertaking and depart?” he demanded.
“I do not,” replied Percy, promptly.