Beta Book

"Papa has gone out riding," she says, "but come, let's go in, and put
up the antlers."
Verty assents readily to this, and speaking to his horse in some
outlandish tongue, leaves him standing there, and accompanies Redbud
toward the house.
"What was that you said?" she asked; "I didn't understand."
"Because you don't know Delaware," said Verty, smiling.
"Was it Indian?"
"Yes, indeed. I said to Cloud--that's his name you know--I told him to
_crouch_; that means, in hunter language, _keep still_."
"How strange!"
"Is it? But I like the English better, because you don't speak
Delaware, my own tongue; you speak English."
"Oh, yes!" Redbud says.
"I don't complain of your not speaking Delaware," says Verty, "for how
could you, unless _ma mere_ had taught you? She is the only Indian
about here."
"You say _ma mere_--that means, 'my mother,' don't it?"
"Yes; oh, she knows French, too. You know the Indian and the French--I
wonder who the French are!--used to live and fight together.


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