"Indians always avenge themselves, captain," said the old hunter, sententiously. "You have drunk too much whiskey, White Eyes; it has got into your head; you are dreaming, with your eyes open." "God grant you may be right, captain! but I have passed all my life in the clearings, and know the manners of the redskins, while you have only been on the frontiers two years." "That is quite as long as is necessary," the captain interrupted, peremptorily. "Nevertheless, with your permission, Indians are men, and the Comanches, who were treacherously assassinated here, in contempt of the laws of nations, were warriors renowned in their tribe." "White Eyes, you are of mixed breed, you lean a little too much to the red race," said the captain ironically. "The red race," the hunter replied proudly, "are loyal; they do not assassinate for the pleasure of shedding blood, as you yourself did, four days ago, in killing those two warriors who were passing inoffensively in their canoe, under the pretence of trying a new gun which you had received from Acropolis." "Well, well! that's enough! Spare me your comments, White Eyes, I am not disposed to receive observations from you." The hunter bowed awkwardly, threw his gun upon his shoulder and retired grumbling. "That's all one!--Blood that is shed cries for vengeance; the redskins are men, and will not leave the crime unpunished." The captain retired into the fort, visibly annoyed by what the half-breed had said to him. Gradually the inhabitants dispersed, after wishing each other good night, and closed their dwellings with that carelessness peculiar to men accustomed to risk their lives every minute. An hour later night had completely set in, thick darkness enveloped the village, and the inhabitants, fatigued with the rude labours of the day, were reposing in profound security. The scouts sent out by the captain towards the decline of day had badly performed their duty, or else they were not accustomed to Indian cunning, otherwise they never could, by their reports, have placed the colonists in such deceitful confidence. Scarcely a mile from the village, concealed amongst and confounded with the thick bushes and intertwining trees of a virgin forest, of which the nearest part had already fallen under the indefatigable axe of the clearers, two hundred warriors of the tribe of the Serpent, guided by several renowned chiefs, among whom was Eagle Head, who, although wounded, insisted upon joining the expedition, were waiting, with that Indian patience which nothing can foil, the propitious moment for taking a severe vengeance for the insult they had received. Several hours passed thus, and the silence of night was not disturbed by any noise whatever. The Indians, motionless as bronze statues, waited without displaying the slightest impatience. Towards eleven o'clock the moon rose, lighting the landscape with its silvery beams. At the same instant the distant howling of a dog was repeated twice.