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Rh answered. The light increased steadily, and suddenly and like a miracle the forest became filled with the golden radiance of the  sun. Only the upper reaches of the trees were illumined as yet and down below the blue  shadows still lingered, but the sight brought  joy and new courage to the traveler. And then, silently skirting a bend in the path, his  heart stood still for an instant ere it began  a wild tattoo against his ribs. Not ten paces before him stood two savages, short, stocky  men in full war paraphernalia, painted and  feathered. Retreat would have been futile, for they had seen him as soon as he had  seen them. Remained only to put a good face on the encounter and win by. A second look showed David that, whatever the Indians  were, they were not Wachoosetts. Nor did it seem that they were natives of the country  thereabouts. Their tomahawks were long-hilted and heavy of head and their girdles hung lower in front. And yet they might be Quaboags, in which case he had nothing to  fear, since so far the Quaboags still professed  friendship for the English.

His pause had been but momentary, and now he went forward, one hand outspread  in the Nipmuck salutation. “Netop!” he