Were they a large tribe? No, not large, not over three or four thousand, counting women and children. Their arms? These were spears and broad two-bladed knives, with great slings, from which they could hurl large stones and pieces of flint with unerring accuracy, and bows and arrows. And no number of white men could stand against these unless they sheltered themselves in trenches or behind rocks and trees.
This ex-cannibal told them also that the land of this terrible tribe abounded in mineral wealth, in silver ore and even in gold.
For this information Roland cared little; all he wished to do was to avenge poor Peggy's death. If his men, after the fighting, chose to lay out claims he would permit a certain number of them to do so, their names to be drawn by ballot. The rest must accompany the expedition back.
Dick's uncle needed but little persuasion to give forty white men, fully armed and equipped, to swell Roland's little army of sixty whites. Besides these, they would have with them carriers and ammunition-bearers--Indians from the plantations.
Dick was all life and fire. If they were successful, he himself, he said, would shoot the murderous chief, or stab him to the heart.
A brave show indeed did the little army make, when all mustered and drilled, and every man there was most enthusiastic, for all had loved poor lost Peggy.
"I shall remain at my post here, I suppose," said Mr. Peter.
"If I do not alter my mind I shall leave you and Jake, with Mr. Roberts, the tutor, to manage the estate in my absence," said Roland.
He did alter his mind, and, as the following will show, he had good occasion to do so.
One evening the strange Indian Benee, between whom and Peter there existed so much hatred, sought Roland out when alone.