“Rolfe,” said Earth, “I can't hurry away, that is out of the question; I don't believe I could leave a chance like this, to save my life; and yet I hardly know what to do. Oloompa has behaved nobly; I didn't think it was in a red skin.”
“Oh! that he has,” cried Gay, “and so has Miskwa and Netnokwa; who could have been kinder?”
“Well,” continued Earth, “as I was going to say, he has told us what he thinks best, and he has his reasons for telling us what he did. Now, you can see from the fact that the whites are encamped so near to their town, that the Prophet is amusing them with professions of peace. If that was not the case, you know, that as they came all the way here to punish the Ingens for their late doings, they would have attacked them at once. From Oloompa's hint, the Ingens may intend to strike a blow to-night, but they can't do any thing; the whites must beat 'em if they have a fight, for, you may be certain, General Harrison would never have come so far upon their lands without men enough to answer his purpose. My notion, therefore, is, that if we could once get within the camp, we should be safe. But, Rolfe, I don't like their large fires, we can see every thing that's going on in the camp. Look in the Ingen town; they are too keen for that.”
“Then, Earth,” said Rolfe, “if there is a doubt, had we not better seek safety in flight?”
“Rolfe,” answered Earth, “that will not do. If I was to run off now, and the Ingens and whites were to take a brush, I don't think I should ever git over it, as long as I lived.”
“Well, Earth, you may take a brush or not, as you please, but I am determined to adopt some plan for our safety.”
“Rolfe,” replied Earth, “you are getting mighty independent all at once; I didn't say that I was so run mad for a fight, as you seem to think, that I would take a brush whether any body else did or not. I merely meant that if they went at it, I should like to go snacks;—and, I say agin, if they were to do it, and I didn't have a hand, it would go with me to my grave. I don't believe I should ever hold my head up agin as long as I lived. But I am just as much determined to see this lady safe as you are.”
“Then, good sir,” said Gay, addressing Earth, “please let us fly, and you go with us; then we shall all be safe.”
“Lady,” answered Earth, “we cannot fly, for old Juno is as stiff as if he had the rheumatics, and all we could do, would be to move on in a short trot.”
His remark was perfectly unintelligible to Gay, and turning to Rolfe, she said, “tell me, what does he mean, Richard?”