"No; the little bird sung what was true," replied the Indian. "The white boy is alive and in the lodge of the Indian." "There are many white men in the country who have children," replied Malachi; "and children are often lost. The little bird may have sung of the child of some other white man." "The white boy had a rifle in his hand, and snow-shoes on his feet." "So have all they who go out to hunt in the winter's snow," replied Malachi. "But the white boy was found near to the white man's lodge." "Then why was not the boy taken back to the white man by the Indians who found him?" "They were going to their own wigwams and could not turn aside; besides, they feared to come near to the white man's lodge after the sun was down; as my father says he has many young men and many rifles." "But the white man does not raise his rifle against the Injun, whether he comes by day or by night," replied Malachi. "At night he kills the prowling wolf when he comes near to the lodge." The Indian again stopped and was silent. He knew by the words of Malachi that the wolf's skin, with which the Indian had been covered when he was crawling to the palisades and had been shot by John, had been discovered; Malachi, after a while, renewed the conversation. "Is the Young Otter of a near tribe?" "The lodges of our tribe are twelve days' journey to the westward," replied the Indian. "The chief of the Young Otter's band is a great warrior?" "He is," replied the Indian. "Yes," replied Malachi. "The Angry Snake is a great warrior. Did he send the Young Otter to me to tell me that the white boy was alive and in his wigwam?" The Indian again paused. He perceived that Malachi knew where he came from, and from whom. At last he said, "It is many moons since the Angry Snake has taken care of the white boy, and has fed him with venison; many moons that he has hunted for him to give him food; and the white boy loves the Angry Snake as a father, and the Angry Snake loves the boy as his son. He will adopt him, and the white boy will be the chief of the tribe. He will forget the white men, and become red as an Indian." "The boy is forgotten by the white man, who has long numbered him with the dead," replied Malachi. "The white man has no memory," replied the Indian, "to forget so soon; but it is not so. He would make many presents to him who would bring back the boy." "And what presents could he make?" replied Malachi; "the white man is poor, and hunts with his young men as the Injun does. What has the white man to give that the Injun covets? He has no whisky." "The white man has powder, and lead, and rifles," replied the Indian; "more than he can use, locked up in his store-house." "And will the Angry Snake bring back the white boy if the white man gives him powder, and lead, and rifles?" inquired Malachi. "He will make a long journey, and bring the white boy with him," replied the Indian; "but first let the white man say what presents he will give."