Читать книгу The Trail of Black Hawk онлайн

9 страница из 62

“He must be,” exclaimed Robert. “He doesn’t think for a minute that he can whip the United States, though, does he? How many warriors has he, anyway?”

“About five hundred or more, according to Deerfoot. He expects, however, that the Winnebagos, Pottowattomies, and Kickapoos will go in with him, and if they do they can make it pretty hot for a while around here.”

“Deerfoot won’t fight, will he?”

“No, indeed,” said Joseph. “At least he said he wouldn’t fight with Black Hawk. He doesn’t think that those other three tribes will join him, either. He thinks Black Hawk will find only his own men with him when the time comes.”

“When is the time coming?”

“It has already come. Black Hawk is on the trail with a party now, and is going to make war on the settlers. He expects it will take the Whites some time to organize and by that time he himself will have large reinforcements from the other tribes.”

“Well,” said Robert, “if he intends to make war on the settlers what is there to prevent him from picking out the Hall family to start with?”