Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/79

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DAVID VISITS PRAYING VILLAGE
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has no use for bow and arrow at night, nor, on a long journey, does he weight himself with a tomahawk. The eagle nests in the great hill in the Wachoosett country and Wachoosett people arm their arrows with the eagle’s claws, and tip them with feathers from the eagle’s wing. As for the blue spots, that I heard, brother.”

“Oh!” But David viewed Pikot doubtfully. “I still think you knew more than you guessed. But ’tis no matter. This Metipom troubles us no more. Doubtless he waits to find whether his son be judged guilty or no. How far is this country of the Wachoosetts, Straight Arrow?”

“Maybe twelve leagues.”

“No farther than that? ’Tis but a half-day journey for an Indian, then.”

“Nay, for there be many streams and hills. One travels not as an eagle flies, brother.”

“True, and still this Metipom lives too near for my liking. Think you he still means mischief, Pikot? ”

“Aye,” answered the Pegan gravely. “But it may be, as you say, that he will wait and see how his son fares in the court in Boston. You do ill to travel alone through the