“Oloompa, while you are excited as I see you,” said Rolfe, “will it be safe for me to venture so far into your country with only a small guard? Tell me, before I name the time for setting out.” “Oloompa hates the white man,” was the reply, “and the white man knows it. Oloompa has promised to serve him,—he will do it. His path is clear, and the maiden shall return safe. Oloompa came alone,—the white man must go alone. He is safe. What Oloompa has done proves that he will not speak false.” “Oloompa,” said Rolfe, “I never can doubt thee. You tell me I shall be safe;—I believe it;—yet still I would like that some few friends should accompany me.” “They will make our path longer,” said Oloompa. “Oloompa wants to go quick. He wishes to be free. The white man, perhaps, is afraid,—he may take one friend. Oloompa again tells him his path is clear.” Rolfe saw that a farther discussion would most probably only tend to provoke him, and he observed, “I am satisfied, and will obey;—the hunter whom you saw here shall accompany us.” CHAPTER XIX. “Thy heroes, though the general doom Hath swept the column from their tomb, A mightier monument command, The mountains of their native land! There points thy muse to stranger's eye, The graves of those that cannot die.” BYRON. Great excitement prevailed in consequence of the tidings brought by Oloompa. The news quickly spread throughout the village, that Rolfe was about to go in quest of a maiden who had been captured some time before by the Indians; and no sooner was it known, than many of his friends volunteered their services, and offered to accompany him. He thanked them for their kindness, but declined, saying that his friend Earthquake had promised to go, and as they all knew that, in any Indian adventure, Earth was a host within himself, they were satisfied. Speculations as to the person they were going in search of, were made by many ladies of the village, and some even ventured to assert that it was an affair of the heart; but this impression finally gave way to one with which they were more pleased, namely, that the captive lady was a distant relation. Oloompa, as before stated, met with every attention which kindness could bestow, and every effort was used to make him happy; but there was sadness and gloom upon his brow, and heaviness at his heart. He saw himself surrounded by the enemies of his race, their wigwams rising up, and their fields spread out, where formerly the red man roved sole lord of the forest. He beheld their inquiring and insulting gaze when he ventured out; he thought of the encroachments and aggressions which had ever marked their history, and he saw in the future, the coming struggle, which was to decide for all time, the fate of the red men.