Yes, when he talks to the Great Spirit. And stooping down, he picked up a piece of slate stone and wrote upon it:
“Prisoner. To be burned at the stake at sun-rise to-morrow at Skull Rock.”
Take this (addressing the dog) to your Master.
The dog seized it and bounded down the rocks.
See, said the Chief, the dog is ashamed of the cowardly spirit of his Master.
Cahoonshee’s hands were then tied behind him, and the march to Skull Rock commenced. Their course was north-west until they reached Mongaup. Then over the ridge to Fish Cabin Brook. Then up the cliff to Skull Rock.
This was the place where for years the Indians had tortured their prisoners by burning them at the stake, and skulls were frequently found on the ground. It was a high pinnacle rising several hundred feet above the water of the Delaware, and the rocks hanging over the river. ([See Appendix.])
The Quicks and Drake, as soon as the fire ball started, returned to their cabin on the Shinglekill, and viewed from the distance the fire and smoke that ascended above the battle-field on the Neversink.
The sun had just set when Rolla came bounding in and dropped a stone at Drake’s feet, and then whined as if in distress.