"'Spose I tell you, you think it all Ingin nonsense," he said, looking a little embarrassed.
"Even if I did, sir, I should feel more comfortable," I said.
"Yes, do tell us, please," said Minny, earnestly.
"Well, then," said the old man, speaking with an effort, "last night went out after a coon--up in the woods right back of here--"
"Yes: well?"
"And went up on that little hill over your pasture, and then," said the old man lowering his voice and speaking with great earnestness, "hear red fox bark--one, two, three times out loud, and then again farther off. There, now!"
I was greatly relieved at finding that I was threatened by nothing worse than the oracle of the red fox. I knew the Indian superstition that if this animal is heard to bark anywhere near a dwelling, he foretells death within twenty-four hours to some one beneath its roof.
"But," said I, "the red fox is only a sign for Indians. He does not bark for white people, and you were not under a roof at the time, so it cannot apply to you."
"Don't know!" said the Panther, shaking his head. "Never know that sign fail. Then here this little woman and this baby--all the same as Ingin now."
Minny looked a little troubled. In spite of his reading, his college education and mathematics, Wyanota had sundry queer notions and superstitions, about which he very seldom spoke, but which nevertheless had some weight with him, and it is possible that he had in some degree communicated his ideas to his wife.