"I am," he answered, dauntlessly, "the son of Red Cedar, the implacable foe of your accursed race; my name is Nathan. Do with me what you like, dogs, but you will not draw a complaint from my lips, a tear from my eyes, or a sigh from my lips."
At these haughty words a murmur of satisfaction ran round the audience.
"Ah!" Unicorn said, to whom White Gazelle had whispered, "What was Red Cedar's son doing in the camp of the Comanches?"
"I should be greatly embarrassed to tell you, chief," the young man answered, frankly; "I was not looking for you, but only wished to cross your lines and escape. That was all."
An incredulous smile played round White Gazelle's lips.
"Does Nathan take us for children," she said, "that he tries so clumsily to deceive us?"
"Believe me what you please, I do not care; I have answered you the truth."
"You will not persuade us that you fell unwittingly among your enemies while thus disguised."
"You have done so too, Niña; one is not more extraordinary than the other, I presume. However, I repeat accident did it all."
"Hum! that is not very probable; your father and brother are in the vicinity through the same accident, I suppose?"