I'll see to the boat and the provisioning." I was at the water-side next day at cock-crow, while the mist was still low on the river.

Mercer was busy putting food and a keg of water into a light sloop, and a tall Indian was aboard redding out the sails.

My travels had given me some knowledge of the red tribes, and I spoke a little of their language, but this man was of a type not often seen in the Virginian lowlands.

He was very tall, with a skin clear and polished like bronze, and, unlike the ordinary savage, his breast was unmarked, and his hair unadorned.

He was naked to the waist, and below wore long leather breeches, dyed red, and fringed with squirrels' tails.