It seemed very strange to be thus eating breakfast with one of the savages of whom they had stood in such deadly terror the night before; the little girls shrank closer to their mother and peered at him with fearful eyes, but the boys watched his every movement with fascinated gaze, and Lige began mentally composing a letter to Simeon Fisher, in which he meant to tell him all about his friend Neowage, the great and mighty chief of the Winnebago tribe.
The chief, however, after one keen glance from his black eyes seemed to pay little attention to them. His eyes were fastened upon Nina, and whether it was her tragic story or her winning beauty that held his attention they could not tell.
When he had finished eating he rose abruptly and said, "Me go now." Then turning to Mr. Peniman he extended his hand.
"No be 'fraid," he said in his deep guttural voice. "Neowage you friend. He watch over you. No let Quaker family get harm." Then as he turned to where his pony was standing, its bridle trailing on the ground, he included them all in one quick glance and muttered a guttural "goo-bye."
Mrs. Peniman rose and gave him her hand, thanking him for his protection. The boys also hastened to shake hands with him. But Nina sprang up from her place and ran to him, taking from her neck a pretty little blue chain, and laid it in his hand.
"Keep it," she said, smiling up at him; "you were good and saved us. Keep that to remember us by."
"KEEP IT; YOU WERE GOOD AND SAVED US."
The Indian looked down from his great height upon the golden-haired little girl, then to the chain in his hand.
"Umph!" he grunted, but they knew from the smile on his face that he was pleased.