Brighteye knew perfectly well that the Apaches understood Spanish, and consequently nothing he had said to Markham escaped them; but it was to his interest, as well as that of his comrade, to pretend to be ignorant of the fact, and accept as current coin the insidious propositions of the Chief.
"His friends, the Palefaces, are encamped not far from here?" the Chief remarked.
"Yes," Brighteye replied, "at the most from four to five bowshots in a westerly direction."
"Wah! I am vexed at it," the Indian said, "for I would have accompanied my brother to their camp."
"And what prevents your coming with us?" the old hunter said, distinctly. "Would you fear an ill reception by chance?"
"Och! who would dare not to receive Red Wolf with the respect due to him?" the Apache said, haughtily.
"No one, assuredly."
Red Wolf leaned over to a subaltern chief, and whispered a few words in his ear; the man rose, and left the clearing. The hunters saw this movement with anxiety, and exchanged a glance, which said, "Let us keep on our guard." They also fell back a few paces, as if accidentally, and drew nearer together, in order to be ready at the first suspicious sign; for they knew the perfidy of the men among whom they were, and expected anything from them. The Indian sent off by the Chief re-entered the clearing at this moment. He had been absent hardly ten minutes.
"Well?" Red Wolf asked him.
"It is true," the Indian answered, laconically.