I felt sure that the Indian would not injure us, so Lily and I followed him, hand in hand.
He moved through the forest faster than we could, and presently stopped near some rocks, amid which lay the body of a deer with huge antlers. Placing himself across the carcass of the animal, he exclaimed with a look of exultation, “See! I have overcome the king of these forests. Once, thousands of these animals wandered here, but since the white man has come they have all disappeared; and now that I have slain him, we must go likewise, and seek for fresh hunting-grounds. Still, Kepenau bears the Whiteskins no malice. He was ever their friend, and intends to remain so. You must take some of the meat and present it to your friends.”
Saying this, he commenced skinning the deer, in which operation I assisted him. He then cut off several slices, which he wrapped up in some large leaves and placed in my basket.
“Take the venison to your mother, and say that Kepenau sends it,” he observed.
“He has no mother,” said Lily.
“Is he not your brother?” asked the Indian.
“No!” said Lily. “His mother was killed by the Redskins long, long ago.”
Lily at that time did not know that her own mother had been murdered when mine was.
“You do not bear the red men any malice on that account, I trust?” said Kepenau, turning to me.
“The Great Spirit tells us to forgive our enemies; and there are good and bad Indians.”