I asked, horrified.

“Oneida and Stockbridge begin to believe as I believe.”

“That this creature is a spy engaged to lead us to our deaths? Do they believe that this self-styled Wyandotte is an infamous Erie?”

“We so believe, Loskiel. We are not yet certain.”

“But you who have taken Erie scalps should know — — ”

“We know an Erie by his paint and lock; by his arms and moccasins. But when an Erie wears none of these it is not easy to determine exactly what he might be. There is, in the Western nation, much impure blood, much mixing of captive and adopted prisoners with the Seneca conquerors. If an Erie wear cats’