"Why parley with the savage?" said Alphonse D'Erlach, "if you mean to take him? I care not for his insolence which chafes me nothing; but we lose time. You have suffered some of his warriors to depart. They are gone, doubtless, to gather the host together. We shall need all the time to carry our captive safely to the boats." These words were spoken aloud, directly in the rear of Utina, D'Erlach having taken a place behind him in the conference. The Paracoussi was startled by the language. Some of it was beyond his comprehension. But he could not misunderstand the tone and manner of the speaker. D'Erlach was standing above him, with his hand stretched over him, and ready to grasp his victim the moment the word should be spoken. His slight form and youthful features, contrasted with the cold, inflexible expression of his eyes and face, very forcibly impressed the imagination of the Indian monarch, as, turning at the interruption, he looked up at the person of the speaker. But, beyond the first single start which followed the interruption, Utina gave no sign of surprise or apprehension. "Awhile, awhile, Alphonse--be not too hasty, my son;" was the reply of Laudonniere. He continued, addressing himself to the Paracoussi: "My red brother thinks he understands the French. He is mistaken. He will grow wiser before he grows much older. But it will be time then that I should teach him. It matters now only, that I should say to the Paracoussi Utina, _we want, and you have plenty_. We have fought your battles. We are your friends. We will trade with you for mil and beanes. Give us of these, according to our need, and you shall have of the merchandize of the French in just proportion. Let it be so, brother, that peace may still flourish between our people." "There is mil and beanes before my white brother. Let him take and divide among his people." "But this will not suffice for a single meal. Does the Paracoussi laugh to scorn the sufferings of my people?" "The Paracoussi laughs because the granaries of the red-men are full. There is no famine among _his_ people. Hath the Great Spirit written that the red-man shall gather food in the proper season that the white man may sleep like the drowsy buffalo in the green pasture? Let my white brother drive from his ear the lying bird that sings to him: 'Sleep--take thy slumber under the pleasant shade tree, while the people of Utina get thee food!'" "Would the Paracoussi make the Frenchmen his enemies? Is their anger nothing? Is their power not a thing to be feared?"