Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/140

126 pompousness and chanted “Sasketup!”  which meant “a great man.” So absurd  were the rascal’s actions that David burst  into a laugh, and that produced scowls and  mutterings from the youth, for the Indians  were sensitive to derision and the lad mistook David’s amusement for ridicule. He stopped in his march of triumph, shook his  small bow angrily, and launched into a shrill  jumble of words, few of which David could  understand. At their companion’s anger the others howled gleefully, jumping about and  striking attitudes. It seemed that what the boy was pouring forth was a challenge, for  now he held forth his bow and an arrow and  pointed to the mark. David, who had seldom attempted so difficult a shot with the native  weapon, although he had frequently used a  bow when hunting with Monapikot, hesitated. Whereupon the incensed lad became the more derisive, and his playmates, transferring their sympathies, joined in the chorus  of taunts.

“Nay, then, I’ll try it,” said David, and accepted the bow and arrow.

They were scarcely more than toys to his long arms and the pipe-bowl looked very  small. But he set the notch into the string,