"You are right," said his father; "I fear I have acted with too great haste. I will fetch her home tomorrow."
"I will go with you, father."
"It is unnecessary. Your health, sir," addressing Oliver; "is it long since you left France?"
"Many thanks. I have been in America two months."
"Though so far off news is welcome. How is the king?"
"There is no longer any king," said Oliver, gravely; "France is now a republic like America."
While the stupefaction which this news caused was still at its height Numank-Charake entered.
"Welcome; be seated and eat," said the old man.
"I came neither to eat nor to drink," replied the young Indian, sadly. "I came to tell you that your child, Evening Dew, has been carried off by Tom Mitchell, the outlaw, and that we must at once save her."