human
That may be done, replied Edith.
gpt
No man in the province knows them so well as he does; and his advice may be relied upon. But we must take other measures too. Otaitsa must be told of Walter's danger, and consulted. Do you know, George, she added, with a melancholy smile,
human
I have lately been inclined to think, at times, that there is no small love between Walter and the Blossom--something more than friendship, at all events.
gpt
But, of course, she will hear of his capture, and do her best to save him,
human
Save him she will, if any human power can do it: but that she knows of his capture, I much doubt. These Indians are wise, George, in their own opinion; and never trust their acts, their thoughts, or their resolutions, to a woman. They will keep the secret from Otaitsa, just as Black Eagle kept it from me; but she must be informed, consulted, and perhaps acted with. Then I think, too, that poor man Woodchuck should have tidings of what his act has brought upon us.
gpt
I see not well, said Lord H----,
human
Nor I, answered Edith;
gpt
Then I will find him out, and let him know the facts directly, said Lord H----.
human
Perhaps he and Otaitsa may act together, if we can open any communication with her.
gpt
She will act by herself, and for herself, I am sure, replied Edith;
human
They have caught some one, he said,
gpt
Can you tell where he is to be found?
human
Why, you would not give him up to them?
gpt
Certainly not, replied Lord H----;
human
That's a different case, observed the man, gravely;
gpt
And now, Robert, said Edith,
human
I did indeed love him well, Miss Prevost, replied the man, with his firm, hard eye moistened,
gpt
It is true, Edith, Walter shot a panther in the wood, and wished to send the skin to Otaitsa. We had no time to lose at the moment; but, as we came back, I induced the guides to skin it, and made them promise to dry and send it forward by the first occasion.
human
I strapped it on the runner's back myself, said the man whom Edith called Robert,
gpt
he continued, turning towards her with a face full of earnest expression,
human
I would go myself, but what would come of it? They would only kill me instead of your brother; for one man's as good as another to them in such cases, and perhaps he might not get off either. But I've a wife and two young children, ma'am, and it makes me not quite so ready to risk my life as I was a few years ago.
gpt
It is not to be thought of, said Edith, calmly.
human
I could ask no one to go; except one partly of their own race; for I know it must be the blood of a white man they spill. All I can desire you to do, for Walter's sake and mine, is to seek for one of the Indian runners, who are often about Albany, and about the army, and send him on to me.
gpt
You see, Miss Prevost, replied the man,
human
Let it be some one on whom we can depend, said Edith;
gpt
That makes it harder still, said the man;
human
It would indeed, said Edith, sadly, as all the difficulties and risks which lay in the way of success were suggested to her by the man's words.
gpt
Well, do your best, Robert, she said, at length, after some thought;
human
You can pay him yourself, ma'am, replied the boatman, bluntly.
gpt
As for taking any myself for helping poor Master Walter, that's what I won't do. When I have got to take an oar in hand, or anything of that kind, I make the people pay fast enough what my work's worth--perhaps a little more sometimes, he added, with a laugh.
human
But not for such work as this--no, no, not for such work as this. So good-bye, Miss Prevost--good-bye, my lord. I won't let the grass grow under my feet in looking for a messenger.