“That’s not onlikely, captain—­the people has got to be greatly given to paintin’ and imitatin’, sin’ the hatchet has been dug up ag’in the British.  The tea-boys were all in Indian fashion.”

“True; but, why should white men assume such a disguise to come to the Knoll?  I am not conscious of having an enemy on earth who could meditate harm to me or mine.”

Alas! poor captain.  That a man at sixty should yet have to learn that the honest, and fair-dealing, and plain-dealing, and affluent—­for captain Willoughby was affluent in the eyes of those around him—­that such a man should imagine he was without enemies, was to infer that the Spirit of Darkness had ceased to exercise his functions among men.  Joel knew better, though he did not perceive any necessity, just then, for letting the fact reach the ears of the party principally concerned.

“A body might s’pose the captain was pop’lar, if any man is pop’lar,” answered the overseer; “nor do I know that visiters in paint betoken onpopularity to a person in these times more than another.  May I ask why the captain consaits these Injins a’n’t Injins?  To me, they have a desperate savage look, though I a’n’t much accustomed to red skin usages.”

“Their movements are too open, and yet too uncertain, for warriors of the tribes.  I think a savage, by this time, would have made up his mind to act as friend or foe.”

Joel seemed struck with the idea; and the expression of his countenance, which on entering had been wily, distrustful and prying, suddenly changed to that of deep reflection.

“Has the captain seen anything else, partic’lar, to confirm this idee?” he asked.

“Their encampment, careless manner of moving, and unguarded exposure of their persons, are all against their being Indians.”

“The messenger they sent across the meadow, yesterday, seemed to me to be a Mohawk?”

“He was.  Of his being a real red-skin there can be no question.  But he could neither speak nor understand English.  The little that passed between us was in Low Dutch.  Our dialogue was short; for, apprehensive of treachery, I brought it to a close sooner than I might otherwise have done.”

“Yes; treachery is a cruel thing,” observed the conscientious Joel; “a man can’t be too strongly on his guard ag’in it.  Does the captain ra’ally calcilate on defending the house, should a serious attempt be brought forward for the day?”

“Do I!  That is an extraordinary question, Mr. Strides.  Why have I built in this mode, if I have no such intention?—­why palisaded?—­why armed and garrisoned, if not in earnest?”

“I s’posed all this might have been done to prevent a surprise, but not in any hope of standin’ a siege.  I should be sorry to see all our women and children shut up under one roof, if the inimy came ag’in us, in airnest, with fire and sword.”

“And I should be sorry to see them anywhere else.  But, this is losing time.  My object in sending for you, Joel, was to learn your opinion about the true character of our visiters.  Have you any opinion, or information to give me, on that point?”