"Ye have, indeed, done well for the spiritual," said Mr. Ward; "what have you done for your temporal defence?"
"We have our garrisons and our captains, and a goodly store of carnal weapons," answered the other. "And, besides, we have the good chief Uncas, of the Mohegans, to help us against the bloody Narragansetts."
"But, my friend," said the minister, addressing Captain Eaton, "there must be surely some mistake about Passaconaway. I verily believe him to be the friend of the white men. And this is his son Wonolanset? I saw him last year, and remember that he was the pride of the old savage, his father. I will speak to him, for I know something of his barbarous tongue."
"Wonolanset!"
The young savage started suddenly at the word, and rolled his keen bright eye upon the speaker.
"Why is the son of the great chief bound by my brothers?"
The Indian looked one instant upon the cords which confined his arms, and then glanced fiercely upon his conductors.
"Has the great chief forgotten his white friends? Will he send his young men to take their scalps when the Narragansett bids him?"
The growl of the young bear when roused from his hiding-place is not more fierce and threatening than were the harsh tones of Wonolanset as he uttered through his clenched teeth:—
"Nummus quantum."