JEHIEL'S WOOING.
After Jehiel had gained a position to suit him, his first endeavor was
to let Snowdrop know that he was there, and to make her aware of his
intentions.
But the question then arose how this was to be accomplished.
Like nearly all border men, Jehiel could imitate perfectly the beasts
of the field and the birds of the air, and he now resolved to make good
use of the power he possessed to attract her attention.
The whirring sound made by the sudden swoop of the night-hawk fell upon
the air, but no notice was made of it.
He was within short pistol-shot of the Indians; indeed he could smell
the savory steaks as they were broiling upon the coals, and he knew
that a discovery would result in instant death, and the fact affected
him in any thing but a pleasant manner.
Then he chirped like a wren, but no more attention was paid to that
than to the whir of the night-hawk.
This was followed by the dull _too-hoot_ of an owl, and the long,
mocking note of the cat-bird.
They were all too common sounds. Neither the Indians nor Snowdrop paid
the least attention to what they had been accustomed to hear every day
and night of their lives.
Jehiel now gave a good imitation of the crow, and as the ringing _caw,
caw_, sounded through the forest, the Indians merely looked up at the
clouds to see if there were any indications of rain, and proceeded with
their meal.
Jehiel did not despair, even though his efforts thus far had failed to
attract the attention of the Indian maiden.
"Thunder!" he muttered, "where is the use in whistling when she won't
even look up!"
Reaching up among the foliage his hand came in contact with a bunch of
acorns, one of which he pulled off, and parting the leaves in front
of him, he threw the acorn at Snowdrop. It hit her upon the hand, and
startled her from her gloomy reverie. She looked up at the tree above
her head, and not in the direction of the scout, but not seeing any
thing, she concluded that the wind had likely dislodged the acorn, and
again bent her head in contemplation.
Again Jehiel threw an acorn, and again she looked up and around, and at
last her eyes rested upon the opening in the foliage of the huge oak
opposite where she sat. She suppressed the cry of surprise which rose
to her lips, and Jehiel noticed that the Indians did not pause in their
work; so he made the opening larger.
Snowdrop was now looking attentively at him--her form was
motionless--not a feature relaxed, but the glad look in her eyes told
Jehiel that he was at last seen and recognized.
He bent down his head and placed it in the palm of his hand, then put
his fingers on his eyes. This was to signify that he would come and
help her when the Indians were asleep.
She answered him in precisely the same way, then made a quick motion
with her hand toward the two Indians, as if to tell him that she fully
understood him.
Jehiel then held up two fingers of one hand and made an undulating
motion with them, to signify that he had horses, and that they would
ride away after the Indians were asleep; and then drew back to the body
of the tree to watch and wait.
He now endeavored to familiarize himself with the surroundings, so that
he would have no trouble in getting away if he succeeded in releasing
Snowdrop. He did not wish to kill the Pawnees if he could possibly help
it, and thought more of outwitting them, but he had resolved to shoot
them both rather than be defeated in his plans. He knew, too, that
there were no better trailers in the world than the Pawnees.
Snowdrop was as calm and stoical as if she had been at home among her
own people, and gave no sign which might arouse the suspicions of her
guard, and Jehiel felt like cheering her for her bravery.
"Ginger! but she's jest the gayest little squaw on earth, and there
ain't a Yankee gal living could take things as cool as she does. She's
as sweet as they make 'em--_she_ is!"
By this time the Pawnees had finished their cooking, and one of them
brought a large slice of meat to Snowdrop, who immediately commenced
eating.
After she had finished the slice they asked her if she wanted more, to
which she shook her head and placed her fingers upon her eyes, giving
them to understand that she was sleepy. They immediately piled a lot of
blankets near the fire, and untied her ankles, so that she could walk
about and lie down.
It seemed a long time to Jehiel before the Indians became sleepy,
but, after smoking and talking a long time, they gave up, and
rolling themselves in their blankets, were soon asleep. They took
the precaution, however, of tying a strip of leather about one of
Snowdrop's wrists, and to their own, so that she could not move her
hand without disturbing them.
Jehiel remained in the tree until he became satisfied, from the loud
snoring, that the Pawnees were sound asleep; then he descended, and
in a moment had cut the thongs which bound the Indian girl; and then,
taking a large piece of meat from before the fire, they silently
departed. Though Jehiel was very hungry, having fasted for thirty-six
hours, he had no disposition to eat until he had put a safe distance
between him and the Pawnees.
"Come on, little gal, and come jest as still as you can," he whispered.
A gentle pressure of his hand was the only reply, and they went on.
After going several rods, Jehiel halted to decide whether he should
still further insult the Indians by going back and turning their horses
loose, but a few whispered words decided in the negative.
So, closely followed by Snowdrop, he walked along to where he had left
his own horse.
The faithful animal stood where he had been left, and Jehiel led him
out to where he had secreted the horse of Snowdrop, and they were soon
mounted. Then he took the route to the open plain, having decided to
push on with Snowdrop to the village of the Blackfeet.
It was not until they were out of the forest that Jehiel spoke a loud
word, but now he felt that he was out of danger, and he said:
"Little gal, you had a purty hard time on't, didn't you?"
"Yes," replied Snowdrop. "Did White Panther send you after me?"
"Wa-al, he said I could come if I wanted to, and I felt as if my heart
would bu'st if I didn't, so I come."
"The Long Hunter has a good heart to take Snowdrop from the hands of
the Pawnee," said the Indian girl.
"Thunder! was them Pawnees?"
"Yes," answered Snowdrop, "and their chief, White Wolf, said he was
going to keep me for his squaw. But I would have killed him first."
"Bully for you--you are the rummiest little chick in America! Did you
ever--that is--ahem! you didn't love him much, I reckon?"
"No. I love your friend, the White Panther, and will be _his_ wife."
"Lord! that can't be, for White Panther, as you call him, has got a
wife already," said Jehiel.
"I do not care. He is a good hunter and can feed more wives than one."
"But, gal, you don't understand. Us white folks has a law which won't
allow a feller to have more than one wife at a time."
"Then that law is no good," replied Snowdrop. "Suppose there are two
women and only one man--must one woman go without?"
Jehiel was getting a little mixed in his love-making, but he replied:
"In course she must! But just suppose there is one woman and two men,
must one man be without a wife?"
This was a question that Snowdrop was not prepared to answer. But she
said:
"I am not _white_. I love the White Panther and I do not care how many
wives he has got, so long as I am the last one, and he loves me best!"
"You will be disappointed, my gal," was all that Jehiel could say.
Riding a little way further they came to a clump of timber, and here
Jehiel resolved to stop a while and eat the meat which they had brought
with them from the Indian camp.
Accordingly they dismounted, the horses at once went to feeding, and
they proceeded to build a fire and cook the meat. Jehiel had not been
bashful in helping himself to a large piece, and the fact that it
rapidly disappeared after being roasted, was sufficient evidence that
it was good. Besides, they were hungry, as an Indian or a frontiersman
always is.
They had not finished eating, when Jehiel noticed that his horse had
stopped eating, and was looking in the direction from which they had
come.
"There comes them cussed Pawnees, not a mile away," he said. "We must
get out of here, or shed blood."
The next moment they were mounted and speeding away over the plain,
satisfied from the yells of the savages who were in pursuit, that they
had been already discovered. Placing one of his revolvers in the hand
of Snowdrop, he said:
"If we must, we must, I suppose; but I don't want to. You ride on
ahead, and I will stop here and settle their hash for them!"
The Pawnees were within rifle-shot, and were fast gaining upon the
scout and Snowdrop, who would not leave him.
On they came--nearer and still nearer--until, in an instant, Snowdrop
raised her revolver and fired.
"Gosh! gal, you made a hole clean through that critter. Now I'll fix
the other one."
The remaining Pawnee had turned his horse and was leaving as fast as
possible, but he could not outrun the bullet from the rifle of the
scout; so went on a visit to the happy hunting-grounds sooner than he
expected or wished.
Then they turned and again started on, when a sight met them that
caused the scout to halt and exclaim:
"Gewhillakens! Look at that!"
Snowdrop looked in the direction in which he pointed and saw as
many as two hundred painted warriors but a short distance away, all
well-mounted and apparently ready for charge.
Jehiel was in despair, but it was quickly changed to joy by the
exclamation of Snowdrop.
"They are Blackfoot braves! My own people, come to look for me!"
She gave a shrill cry, which instantly changed the hostile attitude of
the savages, and bidding Jehiel ride close to her, and not be afraid,
she rode on to meet the war-party.
The war-party was led by a young warrior, who saluted Snowdrop, and
asked:
"Who is this pale-face, and where do you come from?"
"He is the Long Hunter--the friend of White Panther. I was in the hands
of the Pawnees, and he got me away," replied the girl.
"Where is the chief, Gray Eagle?"
"The Sioux have got him. I was going to the village of my people for
warriors to help White Panther get him away. White Panther stayed to
watch the Sioux, and keep them from burning my father."
"There are enough Blackfeet here to save your father without any help
from an accursed pale-face!" exclaimed the warrior.
Snowdrop made no reply, though the flashing of her eyes betrayed
the fact that the young chief was treading on dangerous ground.
They continued in conversation a few minutes longer, when they were
interrupted by an exclamation from Jehiel.
"Gracious airth! Jest look at that! There come the Sioux! What does it
mean?"
Then Snowdrop observed them, and she saw what the scout did not, that
the approaching party was led by her father.
But where was Lew Kelly?