"When Little Beaver and Rising Sun left us they went on alone by the
shores of the great salt lake. We never saw our brave in life again.
Some time after, a party of our warriors came upon a grave. They
examined it, and found the dead body of Little Beaver. It was bruised,
and many bones were broken. A party of white men had built lodges near
to the place. It was they who had murdered Little Beaver, we knew, for
there was no sign of others near, and his dog was with them. So our
braves went to the kinsmen of Rising Sun, and we returned and attacked
the palefaces."
"Did you slay all the palefaces?" asked Hendrick anxiously.
"No, some we slew, others we took prisoners."
Hendrick thought it best to reserve in the meantime his communication of
all this to Paul and his friends.
"I am your kinsman also," he said to the chief, "for Trueheart is my
wife. I have much to say to you, but our business is pressing. Will
you walk with me while we talk?"
The chief bowed his head, and ordered his party to fall to the rear and
follow, while he walked in advance with the pale-faced hunter.
Hendrick then explained to the Indian as much about the wreck of the
_Water Wagtail_ and the dismissal of Captain Trench and his comrades as
he thought necessary, and then said that although his three friends were
indignant at the treatment they had received from their comrades, they
would be grieved to hear that any of them were to be killed, and he
greatly wished to prevent that. "Would the chief guide him to the place
where the prisoners were?"
"I will guide you," said the chief, "but you will find it hard to save
them. Palefaces have slain Little Beaver and stolen Rising Sun, and
palefaces must die."