"Ah, bad man!" he muttered; "take care what he do."
"We think him a good man; he is a friend of ours."
He shook his head, but said nothing more. After this, instead of lying
down, he stole near to where Uncle Jeff, the lieutenant, and I were
talking; although, unless he knew English much better than he seemed to
do, he could not have been any the wiser.
Uncle Jeff considered seriously the proposal made by Winnemak, and now
repeated by the lieutenant.
"Yes," he said at length, "I am sure it is the best plan. I will
entrust my niece and Rachel to your charge. I conclude you will take
your men with you! Indeed, although we can ill spare any hands, I wish
Ralph to accompany you, if you will allow him."
"You may trust me, Mr Crockett, that I will defend your niece and her
attendant with my life; but I shall be very glad to have the aid of your
nephew," answered Lieutenant Broadstreet. "With regard to my own men, I
propose taking only the most trustworthy, Sergeant Custis and Sperry;
the other two I will leave with you, for they will, at all events, fight
as well as better men within walls, and I can more readily spare them
than the others."
On hearing this arrangement, I was placed in a dilemma. I did not at
all like the idea of being compelled to quit the post of danger; while
at the same time I felt it was my duty to assist in protecting Clarice.
I told the lieutenant how I felt on the subject.
"I will speak to your uncle," he answered; "and if you wish to remain, I
will assure him that your coming is not absolutely necessary. We may
hope to reach the Indian camp early to-morrow, and your sister will then
be placed under the charge of the Indian chief and his daughter."
When I put the question to Clarice, she replied,--"I would infinitely
rather have you with me; but if you believe that it is your duty to
remain with Uncle Jeff, I could not bear the thought of your leaving
him. Besides, he seems to be confident that he will be able to beat off
the enemy, should the farm be attacked."