A shudder passed over the Indian's body, although his features lost none of their marble-like rigidity.
"Blue-fox has sworn on his totem," he replied; "that oath is sacred, and he will keep it."
"Ocht! My brother is free, he can start without farther delay."
"I must find my horse again which has escaped."
"Does my brother take us for children, that he says such things to us?" Black-deer replied angrily. "The horse of an Indian Chief never abandons its master; let him whistle, and it will come up."
Blue-fox made no reply; his black eye shot forth a flash of fury, but that was all; he bent forward, seemed to be listening for a few moments, and then gave a shrill whistle, almost immediately after which there was a rustling in the branches, and the Chief's horse laid its fine and intelligent head on its master's shoulder. The latter patted the noble animal, leaped on its back, and digging in his spurs, started at full speed without taking further leave of the hunters, who were quite startled by this hurried departure. John Davis, by an instinctive movement swift as thought, raised his rifle, with the evident intention of saluting the fugitive with a bullet, but Black-deer suddenly clutched his arm.
"My brother must not fire," he said; "the sound would betray our presence."
"That is true," the American said, as he took down his gun. "It is unlucky, for I should have been very glad to get rid of that ill-favoured scoundrel."
"My brother will find him again," said the Indian with an accent impossible to describe.
"I hope so, and if it should happen, I assure you that no one will be able to prevent me killing that reptile."