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106 him over to the rescuers with the assertion that he had sought the Wachoosetts’ hospitality and had been cared for by them as a  guest. Possibly they would say that he was ill or out of his mind and that they had  healed him. It was not a likely story, nor would it be believed in the face of the boy’s  denials, but it might serve its purpose of  calming the Englishmen’s wrath. Moreover, without a doubt every inhabitant of the village would gravely testify to the truth of it. As David knew, the Indians were poor liars, trusting far less to plausibility than to dogged  persistence. The story might well answer Metipom’s purpose and “save his face.”

But David did not believe that the sachem would give him up on demand, for in such  case he would have gained nothing and  would have antagonized the English. It was far more likely that he would deny any  knowledge of him and yet subtly contrive to  let the seekers understand that, when Nausauwah was returned safely to his tribe, David Lindall would reappear. No matter how strong their suspicions might be, David’s  friends would hesitate to wreak vengeance  without some proof. Doubtless Metipom would invite them to search the village and