SMITTEN.
The daughter of Gray Eagle was one of the very few handsome Indian
women. Though not more than sixteen years of age, she deserved the
proud distinction she had won of being the flower of the Blackfoot
nation, and the only really beautiful girl in the tribe.
Dozens of chiefs had sought in vain to win her heart; even brave
warriors from other tribes had offered fabulous gifts for her; but her
father gave them all the same answer--that Snowdrop was the idol of his
heart, and that he would not force her to marry a brave she did not
like.
As for Snowdrop herself, she had never loved any one except her father,
and consequently none of the braves received any encouragement.
But, Red Pine, a cruel chief of the Sioux, had seen her, and with him,
to see her was to covet her; so he did not ask the consent of any one,
but, watching his chance when the Blackfeet were nearly all gone on a
hunt, and Gray Eagle was confined by sickness, he had stolen her away.
Gray Eagle had followed on the trail, and when within rifle-shot of the
Sioux, had met with the accident already narrated.
Red Pine, seeing the fall of Gray Eagle, immediately slackened his
speed so as to save his horse as much as possible; for the chase
had been a long one, and they were now fully thirty miles from the
Blackfoot village. But he would not have ridden so slowly had he known
who was upon his trail in the place of Gray Eagle.
"Would Snowdrop like to rest?" he asked.
The only reply he received was a flash of scorn from the wondrously
black eyes of the captive.
"Ugh!" he grunted. "Snowdrop mad now, but by-and-by Red Pine _make_ her
talk!"
Snowdrop looked back to see what had become of her father, as she could
no longer hear the sound of his horse's feet.
Red Pine also looked back and saw, what she evidently did not, that a
well-armed and well-mounted white man was upon his trail. Furiously he
lashed the horses ridden by himself and Snowdrop, and once more they
flew down the rough valley.
Not long before he had received a severe chastisement at the hands of
a party of white men, and he actually dreaded this single man who was
now in pursuit of him more than he would have done the whole Blackfoot
nation.
Lash as he would, his pursuer rapidly gained upon him. He stopped his
horse, and placing himself behind Snowdrop, he drew her to him so that
her form covered his breast, and drawing his knife, held it above her
breast, resolved to kill her rather than give her up.
Snowdrop was prepared for the blow, but it never fell. With a howl of
mingled rage and pain, the Sioux sprung from his horse, his arm hanging
limp and useless at his side, and darted into the bushes, where it was
impossible for any one to follow him, just as the scout rode up.
Snowdrop, when she discovered that she had merely changed captors, was
at first inclined to be angry, but when Kelly drew his knife and cut
the thongs which bound her hands, at the same time saying that she was
free, she replied:
"Snowdrop can not thank the pale-face, but he has saved her life, and
now she is his."
"Gracious! I don't want you!" replied the scout. "Now you hold my horse
until I find that red-skin and get his scalp, then I will take you to
your father."
But he was unsuccessful. The Sioux had taken care to hide his trail,
and the scout soon returned, and mounting his horse, led the way back
to camp.
Neither spoke, but Snowdrop thought, "What a handsome man he is," and
for the first time in her life she was in love. She had yet to learn
that it takes two to make a bargain, though she resolved to win the
love of the brave scout, or die.
When they reached the camp where Kelly had left the old chief, they
found him sitting beside the fire, endeavoring to tie a cloth around
his broken leg. An expression of pleasure lit up his swarthy face as he
saw his daughter unharmed; then, as his eye rested upon the belt of the
scout, Kelly said, as if anticipating his thoughts:
"No; the red devil got away that time. You see, I had to break his arm,
or he would have struck the girl to the heart. But never mind, I will
have his scalp yet; for I never go back on my word with any man, be he
red or white. I brought back his horse for you, and I don't suppose you
are far from your village, so you can go home when you please."
"White Panther is a great brave, but Red Pine has many warriors with
him, and they may come and take Snowdrop from him. The village of Gray
Eagle is only a day's ride from here; will the white brave build a
smoke to call the warriors of Gray Eagle here?"
"Yes," replied Kelly, "and while I am about it, suppose you have
Snowdrop get something to eat. There is plenty here," he said, pointing
to several saddles of venison hanging in the trees near by. Then Kelly
went to build the smokes.
The transparency of the atmosphere in that region is such that objects
can be seen at a great distance; for example, a mountain presents a
distinct and bold outline at fifty or sixty miles, and may occasionally
be seen as far as a hundred miles.
The Indians, availing themselves of this fact, have been in the habit
of practicing a system of telegraphing by means of smokes by day,
and fires by night, and there are but few men who have crossed the
mountains who have not seen these signals made and responded to from
peak to peak, in rapid succession.
The Indians thus make known to their friends many items of information
highly important to them. If enemies or strangers make their appearance
in the country, the fact is telegraphed at once, giving them time to
secure their animals and to prepare for attack, defense or flight.
War or hunting parties, after having been absent a long time from their
friends at home, and not knowing where to find them, make use of the
same preconcerted signals to indicate their presence.
Very dense smokes may be raised by kindling a large fire with dry wood,
and piling upon it the green boughs of pine, balsam, or hemlock. This
throws off a heavy cloud of black smoke which can be seen very far.
Kelly proceeded to the top of the bluff where we first met him, and
soon three long, white columns of smoke were rising heavenward. This
done, he returned to his camp, and found dinner awaiting him.
Snowdrop presented him a nicely broiled steak upon a clean bark plate,
and was well repaid for her trouble by the smile he gave her, and
complimented her upon her skill in cookery.
After dinner Kelly set the broken limbs as well as was possible with
the appliances at hand. When completed, he said:
"Will Gray Eagle remain with me until morning? Then I will start on the
trail of the Sioux."
"Why does my white brother stop here?"
"I'm waiting for my partner, who went to visit a big hill over to the
north-east. He was going to stay until morning, but that smoke will
bring him as soon as he sees it; anyhow, I won't go without him!"
"It is right for White Panther to be true to his brother, but the Sioux
will be upon our trail before morning."
"Well, let them come. If they do, you can make a big addition to your
stock of scalps."
Suddenly the sound of footsteps was heard, and in a moment Jehiel
Filkins stood before them.
"Glad you are back, for we have got some work to do."
"I thought there was something up," he replied, "though I was on my way
back when I see'd your smokes. Then, you just bet, I traveled! But say,
I'm awful hungry! Who is that handsome creetur'?" he asked, as he set
about getting his dinner.
"Oh! she is the daughter of that old cub who lays in there with a
broken leg."
"It strikes me I have seen him somewhere, before, but I never see'd
such a pretty gal as that, any place."
"Well," replied Kelly, "pitch in and make love to her if you want to,
and marry her if you can. I'm sure you need some one to mend your
clothes. But I have not told you yet that we have got to escort them to
their village."
"Yes, we will," said Jehiel, "and lose our scalps for our kindness!"
"We won't do any such thing. I have been making a treaty of peace with
Gray Eagle, and he has promised not to fight the pale-faces any more!"
"Wal, what's an Injun's promise good for?" asked Jehiel.
"You don't know them as well as I do, or you would not ask such a
question!"
"No, I s'pose not--nor you don't know 'em as well as you will a year
from now. But," he continued, "if we are going, let us be on the move.
I will eat as we ride along."
Snowdrop was well pleased when she heard Jehiel speak thus, and smiled
as she said:
"The Long Hunter is brave and good to be the brother of White Panther."
"Much obleeged," said Jehiel, "but he ain't my brother, though he is a
bully boy, and fit to be the brother of a king."
Lifting the wounded chief to his saddle, they started up the valley,
Kelly taking the lead, the chief next, and Snowdrop behind him, while
Jehiel brought up the rear; preferring to be where he could admire the
lovely form of the Indian girl.
"By Gunner!" he muttered, "but _ain't_ she nice! I'll do something
desperate, and marry her or bu'st!"
Truth to tell, Jehiel Filkins was desperately and irrevocably in love,
but he was "counting his chickens" too soon.
In the midst of his reverie he was made aware of a sudden halt, and he
looked up to see what was the matter.