Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/179

Rh returned his liking. Quinnapasso was very ancient. Sequanawah said that he was the oldest Indian in the world. He had been a famous warrior and hunter and was still  greatly respected for his wisdom and still  held his place in Metipom’s council. In spite of his age and feebleness of body, his eyes  were still bright and clear and his trembling  hands had not lost their cunning. All day long he sat at the entrance of his wigwam  and fashioned pipes of black and red and  gray stone, and thither David frequently  went and, sitting beside him, talked a little  with him in Nipmuck and watched the skillful way in which he chiseled and drilled the  blocks of porphyry and sandstone brought  to him by his grand-daughter. Quinnapasso’s pipes were much sought and brought him many skins and much wampum and  food. David became the recipient of one, which he was loath to take until he saw that  his hesitation was wounding the old man. Whereupon he thanked Quinnapasso in halting Nipmuck and the pipe-maker nodded and grinned and mumbled through toothless  gums.

As August approached, the village became more busy. The women set out in parties of