Not since the “talk” with the Delawares had Kingdom been near Captain Pipe’s village. He seldom left the clearing to go even a little distance in that direction, though often he wished he might do so; often wished he could talk the whole trouble over with Captain Pipe alone; often wished Fishing Bird would come, even if he brought no news. The friendly Delaware, he felt certain, feared for his own safety every time he visited the clearing. He must have given up his watching of the Seneca, too. Perhaps he had been warned to do so. Time would tell.
Thinking of these things, thinking of John, thinking of the work before him, Kingdom was busily occupied one afternoon, tying choice ears of corn together by the husks to hang them from the roof poles, when rapid footsteps near the open door caused him to spring hastily up.
“Hello, here! Howdy, little brothers!” he exclaimed heartily, for before him stood Little Wolf and Long-Hair, two Indian boys, both of whom had shown for the young white settlers a warm friendship.
With the true Indian showing of unmoved indifference, the Delaware lads returned the greeting and Kingdom at once led them into the cabin and set before them the choicest bits of meat and bread the larder afforded.
As the youthful braves ate, Ree inquired kindly concerning Captain Pipe, Neohaw and others of the Delawares, and presently asked about Fishing Bird—desired to know if the spirits prospered him and where he had been so long that his Paleface friends had seen nothing of him.
Ree did not recall the fact at the moment, but he remembered a few seconds later that Long-Hair was a brother of Fishing Bird,—a relationship which soon explained the object of the visit of the Indian lads.
“Fishing Bird—him Long-Hair and Little Wolf come to tell White Fox about,” the former said. “Fishing Bird was hunting. Long-Knives caught him and Long-Knives going to kill Fishing Bird dead.”
“Long-Hair! What are you saying? What do you mean!” cried Kingdom with such solemn but keen earnestness that the Delaware boy was quite startled. “Who will harm Fishing Bird?”
“Yep; just as Long-Hair says,” put in Little Wolf. “Palefaces made Fishing Bird prisoner, where Paleface army is at the River Ohio, and going to kill him.”
“Tell me, brothers, how do you know this? Were you sent to tell the White Fox?” asked Ree, calling himself by the name the Indians had long ago given him. “This is terrible news you bring me! It cannot be!”