The hunter soon arranged his plans. He wrapped the blanket that had been given him around his body, and in a few moments was in a sound slumber. His sleep lasted until a hand upon his shoulder, along with a summons to awake, aroused him. It was one of his guards of yesterday who addressed him. "Come!" "Is that you, old Dummy?" asked he, recognising the Indian. "I can't say I'm glad to see yur, since yur've broke in on the pleasantest dream I've had for a long time. But never mind, how shed you know that you whar a doing it, you poor savage critter you, that don't know nothin' but to handle a tomahawk, and raise the hair off a human head? What do you want with me now?" "The warriors are assembled!" "Air they? Wal, that's kind of them, only they needn't have put themselves out o' the way to get up so early on my account; I could ha' waited." "Come." "Wal, I'm comin'; d'ye think I'm afraid, durn yur? D'ye think I'm afraid of you or all the warriors of your tribe, or of your chief, Wacora, either?" "Wacora is not here." "Not here! Where is he?" "I cannot answer the pale-face's questions. I came to bring you before the council." "Wal, I'm ready to go afore the council." As they were about to emerge from the house, a sudden idea seemed to strike Carrol, and he stopped his conductors. "Stay, friend, will you tell me one thing?" "Speak!" "Whar are we?" "At Oluski's town." Carrol's face beamed with a sudden joy. "And his son Nelatu--is this _his_ home?" "It is." "Hurray! Now, I dare say you wonder at my bein' struck all of a heap wi' delight. But I'll tell you one thing, red-skin--no offence, not knowin' your name--you and yur three partners have taken a most uncommon sight o' trouble all for nothin'." "What do you mean?" "Just this--go and tell Nelatu that Cris Carrol is the party as you sneaked up to and took prisoner, and arter that, streak it for your precious lives." "Nelatu?" "Yes, Nelatu, he's a friend o' this ole coon, and one that'll prove himself so, too, in givin' you skunks as took me a deal more nor you bargained for." "Nelatu is not here." "Not here? Why, didn't you tell me just now that this war his father's town?" "I did; but Nelatu is not here." "Not now, perhaps; but I s'pose he'll be here?" "He will not return for weeks." Carrol's countenance fell. "Then, dog-gone yur skin, lead on! I throw up the pack of cards now that the trump's out of 'em. It's my luck, and it's the darndest luck I ever seed; there's no standin' agin it. I s'pose I must give in." Without another word he followed his guards. They entered the council chamber, where the assembled warriors awaited them. With his foot upon the threshold, his manner entirely changed from the light, jeering hilarity he had exhibited to that of a calm and dignified bearing. He saw in an instant that he was foredoomed. The stern expression of his judges told him as much.