The bee-hunter too
well understood an Indian warrior's aversion to labor of all sorts,
unless it be connected with his military achievements, to be
surprised at his companion's indifference to his own toil. As the
work went on, a friendly dialogue was kept up between the parties.
"I didn't know, Pigeonswing, but you had started for the openings,
before us," observed le Bourdon. "That tribeless old Injin made
something of a fuss about your being out of the way; I dare say he
wanted you to help back the furniture down to the canoes."
"Got squaw--what he want--better to do dat?"
"So you would put that pretty piece of work on such persons as
Margery and Dolly!"
"Why not, no? Bot' squaw-bot know how. Dere business to work for
warrior."
"Did you keep out of the way, then, lest old Peter should get you at
a job that is onsuitable to your manhood?"
"Keep out of way of Pottawattamie," returned the Chippewa; "no want
to lose scalp-radder take his'n."
"But Peter says the Pottawattamies are all gone, and that we have no
longer any reason to fear them; and this medicine-priest tells us,
that what Peter says we can depend on for truth.
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