"I am not so crazy as that. Ten to one is odds that any one, except Sampson, might avoid without disgrace, and even he would not stand much chance, for all his bushy head, when bullets were flying."
"We must out-manœuvre them by some stratagem."
"If Sassacus were here," said Philip, "he could show us the way. There is not a tree or a rock but would have something to say to him about a contrivance."
"What would you think, Philip," asked Arundel, (the direction of Sassacus to sound the notes of the robin, whenever he desired to see him, occurring to his mind,) "were I to conjure up the Chief?"
"I would think thee more cunning than any powah of them all, and, moreover, advise thee to keep out of the way of the elders and magistrates."
"Keep quiet a moment, and I will try my powahing."
So saying, the young man whistled the peculiar notes of the bird, which, in the dewy silence of night, rung wide through the Woods.
"Halt!" cried Spikeman, who instantly suspected some treachery. "Close up around the prisoners. Who dared make those sounds?"
No answer was returned; and, after a vain attempt to discover their author, the party resumed its march.
"If your powahing has done no other good, Master Arundel," said Philip, "it at least frightened the General."