"No more of this, Jude," called out the father angrily. "Move
farther off; we are about to talk of matters unfit for a woman to
listen to."
Hutter did not take any steps, however, to ascertain whether he
was obeyed or not; but dropping his voice a little, he pursued the
discourse.
"The young man is right, Hurry," he said; "and we can leave
the children in his care. Now, my idea is just this; and I think
you'll agree that it is rational and correct. There's a large party
of these savages on shore and, though I didn't tell it before the
girls, for they're womanish, and apt to be troublesome when anything
like real work is to be done, there's women among 'em. This I
know from moccasin prints; and 't is likely they are hunters, after
all, who have been out so long that they know nothing of the war,
or of the bounties."
"In which case, old Tom, why was their first salute an attempt to
cut our throats?"
"We don't know that their design was so bloody. It's natural and
easy for an Indian to fall into ambushes and surprises; and, no
doubt they wished to get on board the ark first, and to make their
conditions afterwards. That a disapp'inted savage should fire at
us, is in rule; and I think nothing of that.
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