Sassacus was gone, it might be an hour, and on his return he threw himself upon the ground; and, in a short time, as was evident from his breathing, was asleep.  Arundel could not understand how any one, who was anticipating an attack from enemies from whom he could expect no mercy, was able to rest so calmly.  Had he entrusted the keeping of his life—­for in a struggle he could expect no more quarter for himself than for his companion—­to any other one than the bold and adroit warrior whose fame for cunning was as great as for bravery; or had the relations betwixt himself and the savage been different, he would not have remained in the cabin a moment longer.  But he shrunk from the betrayal of a want of confidence, and preferred even to risk life upon the judgment of his wild friend.  There lay the chief, softly breathing, his limbs dissolved in sleep, and wearing in the subdued light from the fire outside a placid expression, more like that of the timid deer than of the cougar, whose nature his own resembled.  As for Arundel, so highly were his nerves wrought up, that had he ever so much desired it, he would have been unable to sleep.  Interminable seemed the anxious hours, and, as the night waned, he became at last almost incapable of mastering his apprehensions.  But as more than once he was on the point of waking the sachem, the thought arose that it might look like cowardice, and he forbore.

At last he heard a sound, which seemed to come from just by the side of the wigwam, like the whirring noise which the night hawk makes with its wings.  Instantly Sassacus sat up on his couch, and listened.  The sound was repeated, and he rose.  He looked toward Arundel, and with a smile, inquired how he had rested.  The young man, unwilling to confess the state of his mind, answered in an evasive manner, and the Pequot, after regarding him a moment with a pleased expression, stepped to the entrance and cast his eyes up to the stars.  After considering them he returned, and motioning to Arundel to arise, said, with some humor, that he was sorry to disturb his brother, but that the skunks he had spoke about were coming, and as he knew that his brother did not like their smell, he would ask his brother to go a little way off.  Arundel, without altogether understanding the purpose of his companion, got up, and after examining the priming of his piece, followed his steps.

The chief led him in a direction opposite to that from which they came, to a distance of near a hundred rods, when their course was arrested by the river Charles.  Here he stopped, and said—­

“My white brother will remain here, while Sassacus goes back to give the welcome of a great chief to the Taranteens.”

Arundel now comprehended the design of the other, but it was far from being agreeable to him.  The idea of letting the Pequot fight the battle alone was derogatory to his honor, and besides, his curiosity was stimulated to witness the conduct of the savage, and he therefore answered with some asperity—­