full of timbers, and the open spaces being packed
with cattle feed. "Oh, what a beautiful fire this is going to make!"
commented some of the men.
18 "It certainly will attract attention!" said The Hawk. "We cannot
take our dead with us. Put their bodies in the uppermost parts of the
buildings. It will not exactly be funeral fires, but they will
understand, and it will do just as well."
19 Sadly the people obeyed him. It was beginning to get dark, when the
first parties began to leave the mines. "As soon as my people are
clear," The Hawk told the Frn War Leader, "I will release you, and, your
people. It will make no difference if you tell your people which way we
went. They won't be able to catch us anyway."
20 The Frn Leader grabbed him by the arm. "You betray us!" he screamed,
"You promised us mercy! I said nothing when you cut off some of my
men's heads because they had known your brothers, but you promised us
safety! Do you know what the King will do to us? If we live to rebuild
this mine, we will be lucky. What would happen to our women and
children would be unthinkable. You gave us your word. You must keep
it! Take us with you. Take us to the safety of your land."
21 This was something The Hawk had not considered. "You will have to
help," The Hawk explained, "with the carrying of supplies and treasure.
It will be a bad march, hard on your women and children."
22 "I want to see my daughter grow up," pleaded The War Leader, "not
butchered by her own people. I give you my word and my men and I will
cooperate in every way. We will do nothing to hold you back. But I beg
of you, take us with you! If not our men, in the name of pity, take our
women and children!"
23 "Very well," agreed The Hawk, "get your people ready. We're moving
out in just a short time."