The World's Greatest Military Spies and Secret Service AgentsBarton, George
History
The World's Greatest Military Spies and Secret Service Agents
Barton, George
Secret service; Spies
At this suggestion of possible disloyalty on the part of his friend
the Indian became very indignant. He was so angry that he found it
impossible to express himself coherently. But his manner, if not his
words, perfectly satisfied the questioner of the perfect good faith of
Job. As a matter of fact it was never seriously doubted and the white
man who propounded the query felt ashamed at having put the unworthy
suspicion into words.
In the meantime Job found himself in an embarrassing and really
dangerous situation. With the flight of James the savages, for the
first time, became skeptical concerning the motives of the two
visitors. The chief Sachem sent for Job and put him through a severe
cross-examination. But Job was shrewd and told them a cock-and-bull
story that satisfied their curiosity. As a result of this he was
treated with even more consideration than when he first arrived in
camp. He was fearful lest the Sachem should want him to accompany him
on the proposed visit to King Philip. He knew that to go before the big
Chief would be taking his life in his hands. Finally, to his great joy,
the Sachem decided that he should not go on the trip.
The next three days were days of great anxiety to the spy. He knew that
the emissary to the King would bring final plans for the attack on the
whites and he was fearful lest anything should happen to deprive him of
this much needed information. So he exerted himself to the utmost in
order to keep the good will of the savages. As a result of this they
virtually took him to their bosoms. In speaking of this afterwards
he said that he felt no compunctions of conscience. He did not feel
that he was betraying them but rather that he was engaged in an honest
attempt to save human life.
He took part in their amusements, which helped to while away the time.
One of the most popular of the games was called “hunt the button,” a
diversion somewhat akin to that which is enjoyed by children the world
over. This was played at night when the natives, in paint and buckskin,
seated themselves around a tepee, with the fire blazing bright in
their faces, as they swung their hands in time with a rhythmic chant.
This was indulged in by both sexes. Also they played the game of
“deer-foot.” In this a number of cylindrical bones, usually taken from
the foot of the deer, and perforated with several holes around their
sides, were strung on a cord, which had at one end several strands
of beads and at the other a long needle. The object was to toss the
string, with the beads upon it, in such a way as to catch in the point
of the needle, which was retained in the hand, any designated one of
the bones or bead strands.
[Illustration: KING PHILIP, OR METACOMET.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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