“You are a fool—you think to deceive me. As soon as we are out of your presence, you will call your red hounds and set them upon us. No! I cannot trust you—your hour has come. Prepare to meet the Great Spirit whose name you have defamed. You are a treacherous cur—and you shall die!” “Have I ever deceived you, Scar Face?” the Prophet asked tremulously, in his terror dropping the figurative form of speech to which he was addicted, and speaking in the first person. “N-o,” Bradford admitted. “Nor am I deceiving you now,” the kneeling savage hastened to say. “You and your friend shall go free—none shall molest you. You shall come and go at your pleasure. I was mad to threaten you——” “Indeed, you were!” Bradford interrupted, dropping his arm, but still retaining a firm hold upon his knife. “Now, Tenskwatawa, if you have come to your senses, arise and give heed to what I say. This is the second time you have pitted yourself against me—and both times you have been worsted. The next time I shall not bandy words with you. Do you understand my meaning?” The Prophet, who had arisen to his feet, nodded meekly. “Very well,” Scar Face continued, “you are desirous of wresting your lands from the grasping Americans. The British are your allies. They have furnished your children with arms, ammunition, and clothing. I am their agent. Do you wish me to return to my people and tell them you sought to take my life?” Tenskwatawa sullenly but emphatically shook his head. Bradford proceeded: “Had you caused my death, my people would have learned the fact. They would have withdrawn their help, and avenged my murder. You know I speak the truth. You were mad to harbor the thought of opposing my will. Your brother—the great and warlike Tecumseh—is my friend. What would he have said to you?” The Prophet shivered and was silent. Bradford hastened to conclude: “Let us have a final understanding, then. This young man is my friend——” “Hold!” testily interrupted Douglas, who had been chafing under the oft-repeated assertion. “I’ll not admit that I’m your friend, to save my life, even.” Tenskwatawa uttered a grunt of surprise. But Scar Face resumed placidly: “He _is_ my friend, although he denies it. But he is an American; and as an American, is the enemy of the redmen and their allies, the English. This morning he fought against us; he would fight against us again. Therefore we shall keep him prisoner. But he must receive neither insult nor injury at our hands. Tenskwatawa, you have made two mistakes within the last twenty-four hours. You must not forget your promise to me—and thereby make another.” “Tenskwatawa will not forget his promise,” the Prophet answered humbly. Bradford approached the Indian and whispered a few words in his ear. The latter nodded and glanced toward Douglas. Then the two white men and the dog withdrew from the lodge. When they were out of sight and hearing, the Prophet stamped the earth and tore his hair, in a frenzy of impotent rage.