"Was it necessary to come so far to find a suitable farm?"
"Certainly not; but we should have run the risk of being someday expelled from the new clearing by the owners of the land, and compelled to begin a new plantation further away," she said.
"While now," Black continued, "at the place where we are, we have nothing of that sort to fear, as the land belongs to nobody."
"My brother is mistaken," the chief said, who had not yet spoken a word; "the country, for ten days' march in every direction, belongs to me and my tribe; the Paleface is here on the hunting grounds of the Kenhas."
Black regarded Natah Otann with an air of embarrassment.
"Well," he said, after a moment's pause, as if speaking against the grain; "we will go further, wife."
"Where can the Palefaces go to find land that belongs to nobody?" the chief continued, severely.
This time the American had not a word to say. Diana, who had never before seen an Indian so close, regarded the chief with a mingled feeling of curiosity and terror. The Count smiled.
"The chief is right," Bright-eye said, "the prairies belong to the Red men."
Black had bowed his head on his chest, in perplexity.