"My father is mistaken; the squaws are sacred to me; I love and respect them. The one is Unicorn's own wife, who is returning to her husband; the other is a paleface, her hair is white as the snow that passes over our heads driven by the evening breeze, and her body is bowed beneath the weight of winters; she is the mother of a great hunter of the palefaces, the adopted son of our tribe, whose name has doubtless reached our father's ears."
"How is he called?"
"Koutonepi."
At this name, which he might have expected, however, Nathan involuntarily gave such a start that Spider perceived it.
"Can Koutonepi be an enemy of my father?" he asked, with astonishment.
"On the contrary," Nathan hastened to reply; "the men protected by the Wacondah have no enemies, as my son knows. The joy I felt on hearing his name uttered caused the emotion my son noticed."
"My father must have powerful reasons for displaying such surprise."
"I have, indeed, very powerful," the sorcerer replied with feigned delight; "Koutonepi saved my mother's life."
This falsehood was uttered with such magnificent coolness, and such a well-assumed air of truth, that the Indian was convinced and bowed respectfully to the pretended sorcerer.
"In that case," he said, "I am certain that my father will not mind leaving his road a little to see the man to whom he is attached by such strong ties of gratitude; for it is very probable that we shall meet Koutonepi at Unicorn's camp."