When the meal had been finished, and the gentlemen had relished their pipes under the hemlocks, the whole party strolled on their way with Mollie as leader. They took the path past the mill on the Wingohocking and through the wild-wood trail in the soft light of the early evening to the lodge of Segwuna. Nothing could be more peaceful or simple in nature than the lone wigwam in a rift of the woods, approached by a well-beaten path through the underbrush. The curling smoke of a lazy fire was streaming skyward in the still evening air, with an atmosphere broken by no sound except the barking of an Indian’s dog. There sat the mother on a mat before the wigwam, and peering from the inside was Segwuna, standing shyly out of sight, but able to perceive the approach of the party with Dr. Greydon. Kaubequa sat quietly at her wigwam entrance and when Dr. Greydon approached and greeted her in her own tongue, she replied and smiled as she asked Segwuna to step out and greet them. As the daughter obeyed, Mollie ran and took Segwuna by both hands, and led her toward Dr. Franklin and Mr. Jefferson,--both of whom bowed very low when Miss Mollie presented her shy Indian companion. As Dr. Franklin could discern serious eagerness in Mr. Jefferson’s countenance, he volunteered to unravel the Indian girl’s mind. “Segwuna, we have observed you at the meetings of Congress, and may we ask why you are so much interested in the proceedings?” asked Dr. Franklin, when he had been presented to Segwuna. “Certainly, Mr. Franklin,” answered the Indian maid, “Segwuna never misses a day. The Great Spirit is watching every word said in Congress. I am bound to do His bidding. He wishes Americans to be free and make all men equal. The Indians love liberty. The soil which the white man has adopted for his home, in the beginning was given by the Great Spirit to His children, the Indians. Each Indian was to be his own lord and master, and whoever lives on the Indian’s land shall derive the same right. What the Great Spirit hath given shall never be taken away.” When Mr. Jefferson had found much force in the first answer, he nervously continued with a question: “Do you believe, Segwuna, that this land of ours shall be free and prosperous forever?” “Yes, Mr. Jefferson, the Great Spirit in the first place gave the Indians this land. He told them that they would be given the means of subduing all of the earth, if they would only be industrious and cultivate the gift of corn and make good use of His gift. “If they did not make good use of the gift, his white brother would come and take his birth-right away. So, as the Indians heeded not what the Great Spirit commanded, his white brother has succeeded to all the good that the Indian’s corn was intended to be for the land.” Dr. Greydon was amazed at the answers already given and thought that something more than common knowledge was her heritage, so he attempted a question: