But the laugh with which he greeted his approach found no response from Nathan himself, who, having looked with amazement upon Edith and Telie, as if marvelling what madness had brought females at that hour into that wild desert, turned at last to the soldier, demanding, with inauspicious gravity,-- "Friend! does thee think thee is in thee own parlour with thee women at home, that thee shouts so loud and laughs so merrily?
or does thee know thee is in a wild Kentucky forest, with murdering Injuns all around thee ?" "I trust not," said Roland, much more seriously; "but, in truth, we all took you for Nick of the Woods, the redoubtable Nick himself; and you must allow that our terrors were ridiculous enough, when they could convert a peaceful man like you into such a blood-thirsty creature.

That there are Indians in the wood I can well believe, having the evidence of Dodge, here, who professes to have seen six, and killed one, and of my own eyes into the bargain .-- Yonder lies one, dead, at this moment, under the walnut-tree, killed by some unknown hand,--Telie Doe says by Nick of the Woods himself--" "Friend," said Nathan, interrupting the young man, without ceremony, "thee had better think of living Injuns than talk of dead ones; for, of a truth, thee is like to have trouble with them!" "Not now, I hope, with such a man as you to help me out of the woods.

In the name of heaven, where am I, and whither am I going ?" "Whither thee is going," replied Nathan, "it might be hard to say, seeing that thee way of travelling is none of the straightest: nevertheless, if thee continues thee present course, it is my idea, thee is travelling to the Upper Ford of the river, and will fetch it in twelve minutes, or thereabouts, and, in the same space, find theeself in the midst of thirty ambushed Injuns." "Good heavens!" cried Roland, "have we then been labouring only to approach the cut-throats?
There is not a moment, then, to lose, and your finding us is even more providential than I thought.

Put yourself at our head, lead us out of this den of thieves,--conduct us to the Lower Ford,--to our companions, the emigrants; or, if that may not be, take us back to the Station,--or any where at all, where I may find safety for these females .-- For myself, I am incapable of guiding them longer." "Truly," said Nathan, looking embarrassed, "I would do what I could for thee, but--" "_But!_ Do you hesitate ?" cried the Virginian, in extreme indignation: "will you leave us to perish, when you, and you alone, can guide us from the forest ?" "Friend," said Nathan, in a submissive, deprecating tone, "I am a man of peace: and paradventure, the party being so numerous, the Injuns will fall upon us: and, truly, they will not spare me any more than another: for they kill the non-fighting men, as well as them that fight.

Truly, I am in much fear for myself: but a single man might escape." "If you are such a knave, such a mean-spirited, unfeeling dastard, as to think of leaving these women to their fate," said Roland, giving way to rage, "be assured that the first step will be your last;--I will blow your brains out, the moment you attempt to leave us!" At these ireful words, Nathan's eyes began to widen.
"Truly," said he, "I don't think thee would be so wicked! But thee takes by force that which I would have given with good will.