"Come," Loyal Heart went on, "let us be frank, Chief; tell us clearly what things happened."
"The prisoner was bound and placed in the great medicine lodge."
"What!" Loyal Heart exclaimed, in indignation; "A hostage bound and imprisoned! You are mistaken, Chief, the Sachems have not done such a thing, or thus insulted a young man protected by the law of nations."
"I relate things exactly as they happened, Loyal Heart."
"And who gave the order?"
"I," the Chief muttered.
"The hatred you feel for Blue-fox led you astray, Black-deer; you committed a great fault in despising the word pledged by this young man; by treating him as a prisoner you gave him the right to escape; the opportunity offered itself, he profited by it, and acted rightly."
"My young men are on his trail," the Chief said, with a hateful smile.
"Your young men will not capture him, for he has fled with the feet of the gazelle."
"Is the misfortune irreparable, then?"