“You have not had half enough of it, Jaap, or your manners would be better,” I thought it necessary to put in, for the fellow had never before manifested so quarrelsome a disposition in my presence; most probably because I had never before seen him at variance with an Indian. “Let me hear no more of this, or I shall be obliged to pay off the arrears on the spot.”
“A little hiding does a nigger good, sometimes,” observed Guert, significantly.
I observed that Dirck, who loved my very slave principally because he was mine, looked at the offender reprovingly; and by these combined demonstrations, we succeeded in curbing the fellow's tongue.
“Well, Susquesus,” I added, “we all listen, to hear what you mean.
“Musquerusque chief—Huron chief—got very tender back; never forget rope.”
“You mean us to understand that my black's prisoner will be apt to make some attempt to revenge himself for the flogging he got from his captor?”
“Just so. Indian good memory—no forget friend—no forget enemy.”
“But your Huron will be puzzled to find us, Onondago. He will suppose us with the army; and, should he even venture to look for us there, you see he will be disappointed.”
“Never know. Wood full of paths—Injin full of cunning. Why talk of Ravensnest?”
“Was the name of Ravensnest mentioned in the presence of that Huron?” I asked, more uneasy than such a trifle would probably have justified me in confessing.