“Never!” returned the chief vehemently. “The palefaces shall die; but they shall live one day longer while this matter is considered in council, for it is only children who act in haste. Go! Bearpaw has spoken.”
To have secured even the delay of a single day was almost more than the prisoners’ friends had hoped for, and they resolved to make the most of it.
“Now, Hendrick,” said Paul, when they were in the tent that had been set aside for their use, “we must be prepared, you and I, to give the chief a full account of our religion; for, depend on it, his mind has been awakened, and he won’t rest satisfied with merely discussing the subject with his men of war.”
“True, Paul; what do you propose to do?”
“The first thing I shall do is to pray for guidance. After that I will talk with you.”
“For my part,” said Captain Trench, as Paul rose and left the tent, “I see no chance of moving that savage by religion or anything else, so I’ll go an’ make arrangements for the carryin’ out o’ my plans. Come along to the woods with me, Olly, I shall want your help.”
“Father,” said the boy, in a serious tone, as they entered the forest, “surely you don’t mean to carry out in earnest the plan you spoke of to Grummidge and the others yesterday?”
“Why not, my son?”
“Because we are sure to be all killed if you do. As well might we try to stop the rising tide as to subdue a whole tribe of savages.”
“And would you, Olly,” said the seaman, stopping and looking sternly at the boy, “would you advise me to be so mean as to look on at the slaughter of my shipmates without making one effort to save them?”