The Indian assumed a proud look, and replied that they had. He said that the buffalo, the bear, the deer, and the beaver—the eternal prairies and forests—the rivers, the air and the sky, all belonged to the red men. That the whites had not been invited to come among them, but they had intruded upon their lands, stolen their game, and killed their warriors. Yet, he said, the Indians did not hate Boone, and would not have attacked the premises that night, if they had known he was there.
“Why do they not hate Boone? He has killed more of them than any one else in this region,” continued Roughgrove.
The Indian said that Boone was a great prophet, and was loved by the Great Spirit.
“Will the war-party return hither to-night?” asked Roughgrove.
The Indian answered in the negative; and added that they would never attack that place again, because the Great Spirit had fought against them.
Boone requested Roughgrove to ask what would be done with the false prophet who had advised them to make the attack.
The savage frowned fiercely, and replied that he would be tied to a tree, and shot through the heart a hundred times.
“What do you think we intend to do to you?” asked Roughgrove.
The savage said he would be skinned alive and put under the ice in the river, or burned to death by a slow fire. He said he was ready to die.
“I’ll be shot if he isn’t a spunky fellow!” said Sneak.