Middleton did not see this moment arrive entirely without distrust.
The admiration with which Hard-Heart regarded Inez, had not escaped
his jealous eye, any more than had the lawless wishes of Mahtoree. He
knew the consummate manner in which a savage could conceal his
designs, and he felt that it would be a culpable weakness to be
unprepared for the worst. Secret instructions were therefore given to
his men, while the preparations they made were properly masked behind
the show of military parade, with which it was intended to signalise
their departure.
The conscience of the young soldier reproached him, when he saw the
whole tribe accompanying his party to the margin of the stream, with
unarmed hands and sorrowful countenances. They gathered in a circle
around the strangers and their chief, and became not only peaceful,
but highly interested observers of what was passing. As it was evident
that Hard-Heart intended to speak, the former stopped, and manifested
their readiness to listen, the trapper performing the office of
interpreter.
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