"And they are painted
yellow as well as black, and have dashed their cheeks with
puccoon: it's … l'outrance, then! And the war dance is toward! If we
are to pacify this hornets' nest, it's high time we set about it.
Gentlemen of the block house, we are but twelve, and they may
beat us back, in which case those that are left of us will fight it out
with you here. Watch for us, therefore, and have a sally party
ready. Forward, men!"
"One moment, Captain Percy," said Rolfe. "Chanco, where's the
Emperor?"
"Five suns ago he was with the priests at Uttamussac," answered
the Indian. "Yesterday, at the full sun power, he was in the lodge
of the werowance of the Chickahominies. He feasts there still. The
Chickahominies and the Powhatans have buried the hatchet."
"I regret to hear it," I remarked. "Whilst they took each other's
scalps, mine own felt the safer."
"I advise going direct to Opechancanough," said Rolfe.
"Since he's only a league away, so do I," I answered.
We left the block house and the clearing around it, and plunged
into the depths of the forest. In these virgin woods the trees are set
well apart, though linked one to the other by the omnipresent
grape, and there is little undergrowth, so that we were able to
make good speed. Rolfe and I rode well in front of our men. By
now the sun was shining through the lower branches of the trees,
and the mist was fast vanishing.
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