Middleton was glad to be silent; but the old man, who had listened to
their words, drew a little nigher, and continued the discourse.
"Here is likely to be a merciless and a hellish business!" he said,
shaking his head in a manner to prove that even his experience was at
a loss for a remedy in so trying a dilemma. "Our Pawnee friend is
already staked for the torture, and I well know, by the eye and the
countenance of the great Sioux, that he is leading on the temper of
his people to further enormities."
"Harkee, old trapper," said Paul, writhing in his bonds to catch a
glimpse of the other's melancholy face; "you ar' skilled in Indian
tongues, and know somewhat of Indian deviltries. Go you to the
council, and tell their chiefs in my name, that is to say, in the name
of Paul Hover, of the state of Kentucky, that provided they will
guarantee the safe return of one Ellen Wade into the States, they are
welcome to take his scalp when and in such manner as best suits their
amusements; or, if-so-be they will not trade on these conditions, you
may throw in an hour or two of torture before hand, in order to
sweeten the bargain to their damnable appetites.
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