They know, that the Wahconshecheh (bad
spirit) loves his own children, and will not turn his back on him that
does them harm."
The old man delivered this opinion in an ominous and sententious
manner, and then rode apart as if he had said enough. The result
justified his expectations. The warrior, to whom he had addressed
himself, was not slow to communicate his important knowledge to the
rest of the rear-guard, and, in a very few moments, the naturalist was
the object of general observation and reverence. The trapper, who
understood that the natives often worshipped, with a view to
propitiate, the evil spirit, awaited the workings of his artifice,
with the coolness of one who had not the smallest interest in its
effects. It was not long before he saw one dark figure after another,
lashing his horse and galloping ahead into the centre of the band,
until Weucha alone remained nigh the persons of himself and Obed. The
very dulness of this grovelling-minded savage, who continued gazing at
the supposed conjuror with a sort of stupid admiration, opposed now
the only obstacle to the complete success of his artifice.
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