"Wah!" he said, "Unicorn is a great chief; his renown is spread over the whole earth. What warrior could contend with him on the prairie?"
"Does my father know him?"
"I have not the honour, though I have often desired it; never to this day have I been able to meet the celebrated chief."
"If my father desires it, I will introduce him."
"It would be happiness for me; but the mission the Wacondah has confided to me claims my presence far from here. Time presses; and, in spite of my desire, I cannot leave my road."
"Good! Unicorn is hardly three hours march from the spot where we now are; we shall reach his camp at an early hour tomorrow."
"How is it that my son, who seems to me a prudent warrior, should have halted here, when so near his chief?"
All suspicion had been removed from the Indian's mind, so he answered frankly this time, without trying to disguise the truth, and laying all reticence aside.
"My father is right. I would certainly have continued my journey to the chief's camp, and reached it this evening before the shriek of the owl, but the two squaws with me delayed me and compelled me to act as I have done."
"My son is young," Nathan answered, with an insinuating smile.