Nathan felt that he was on a wrong track, and that if the conversation went on in this way, he should offend a man whom he had such an interest in conciliating. He therefore altered his tactics.
"I do not claim any right," he said quietly, "to control the acts of warriors for am I not a man of peace?"
Spider smiled contemptuously.
"In truth," he said, in a good-humoured tone, "great medicine men such as my father are like women, they live a long time; the Wacondah protects them."
The sorcerer refrained from noticing the bitter sarcasm the speaker displayed in his remark.
"Is my son returning to his village?" he asked him.
"No," the other answered, "I am going to join the great chief of my tribe, who is on an expedition, with his most celebrated warriors."
"To what tribe does my son belong, then?"
"To that of Unicorn."
Nathan trembled inwardly, though his face remained unmoved.