“All he say, news—­much news ten time, as one time.  Cap’in lend Nick a quarter dollar, yesterday.”

“I did lend you a quarter, certainly, Nick; and I supposed it had gone to the miller for rum, before this.  What am I to understand by your holding it out in this manner?—­that you mean to repay me!”

“Sartain—­good quarter—­just like him cap’in lent Nick.  Like as one pea.  Nick man of honour; keep his word.”

“This does look more like it than common, Nick.  The money was to be returned to-day, but I did not expect to see it, so many previous contracts of that nature having been vacated, as the lawyers call it.”

“Tuscarora chief alway gentleman.  What he say, he do.  Good quarter dollar, dat, cap’in?”

“It is unexceptionable, old acquaintance; I’ll not disdain receiving it, as it may serve for a future loan.”

“No need bye’m-by—­take him, now—­cap’in, lend Nick dollar; pay him to-morrow.”

The captain protested against the sequitur that the Indian evidently wished to establish; declining, though in a good-natured manner, to lend the larger sum.  Nick was disappointed, and walked sullenly away, moving nearer to the stockade, with the air of an offended man.

“That is an extraordinary fellow, sir!” observed the major—­“I really wonder you tolerate him so much about the Hut.  It might be a good idea to banish him, now that the war has broken out.”

“Which would be a thing more easily said than done.  A drop of water might as readily be banished from that stream, as an Indian, from any part of the forest he may choose to visit.  You brought him here yourself, Bob, and should not blame us for tolerating his presence.”

“I brought him, sir, because I found he recognised me even in this dress, and it was wise to make a friend of him.  Then I wanted a guide, and I was well assured he knew the way, if any man did.  He is a surly scoundrel, however, and appears to have changed his character, since I was a boy.”

“If there be any change, Bob, it is in yourself.  Nick has been Nick these thirty years, or as long as I have known him.  Rascal he is, or his tribe would not have cast him out.  Indian justice is stern, but it is natural justice.  No man is ever put to the ban among the red men, until they are satisfied he is not fit to enjoy savage rights.  In garrison, we always looked upon Nick as a clever knave, and treated him accordingly.  When one is on his guard against such a fellow, he can do little harm, and this Tuscarora has a salutary dread of me, which keeps him in tolerable order, during his visits to the Hut.  The principal mischief he does here, is to get Mike and Jamie deeper in the Santa Cruz than I could wish; but the miller has his orders to sell no more rum.”

“I hardly think you do Nick justice, Willoughby,” observed the right-judging and gentle wife.  “He has some good qualities; but you soldiers always apply martial-law to the weaknesses of your fellow-creatures.”