"Speak then, and tell me what brings you here."
The sachems looked at each other, and exchanged a few words in a whisper. Then the chief took up the word:
"My father has seen the great army of the Apaches, and the nations their allies?"
"I have," replied the major carelessly.
"And has my father, who is a learned paleface, counted the warriors who compose it?"
"Yes, as far as it was possible."
"Ah! And how many are there, according to my father's counting?"
"Upon my word, chief," replied the major, with an unconcern that was admirably counterfeited, "I must confess that, as for us, we do not care how many of them there are."
"But still," persisted the Indian, "at how many does my father count them?"
"How can I know? Eight or ten thousand I dare say."