AN AUDACIOUS PROCEEDING.
When the Indians, including the lover-like Apache were fairly beyond
hearing of the emigrants, they ventured to indulge fully in their mirth.
There was something so inexpressibly ridiculous in the facts of this
courtship, which could only find expression of laughter. None enjoyed it
more than the fair one concerned; she considered it the greatest
adventure of her life, and never wearied of listening to all its
particulars, from those who had taken a closer observation of Cherouka’s
actions than she had.
But after all there was a serious side to this matter,—at least the
trappers concluded there was. They understood perfectly well the
treacherous nature of these redskins, were certain that this chief would
neglect no means of securing the prize which had been so decidedly
refused him.
Believing it inadvisable to alarm their friends, they discussed the
matter among themselves. The conclusion was that all three should stand
guard that evening; and that through the day, one or two of them at
least should keep unremitting watch.
When the suppers were eaten, several of the leaders of the emigrant
train were acquainted with the facts of the case, while the others
believed that only a prudential course was taken to guard against the
thieving propensities of the redskins.
Fred Wainwright took his station near the wagon which contained the
sleeping Florence Brandon, and to him no occupation could have been more
delightful than thus to watch by the side of her whom he loved,—yes,
madly loved: he confessed it, standing there alone in the gloom of the
night. This girl, who little imagined that Fred Wainwright was not Fred
Wainwright—but——ah! well, perhaps the past was to be a dream and perhaps
not. At any rate his duty just there was to stand guard over the fair
being who occupied his waking and sleeping thoughts to the exclusion of
almost everything else.
Not a minute’s sleep visited the eyes of the Trappers of the Gila,
through that same summer night. They passed from point to point,
continually moving through the train, among the wagons, and once or
twice, one or two of them passed out upon the prairie and scrutinized
every point visible.
The night was semi-dark,—a faint moon rising high in the sky, now and
then obscured by the passing clouds. Occasionally the vision was able to
penetrate for several hundred yards, and then it was restricted to a
fifth of that distance.
Leonidas Swipes had scented the danger, and declared that he would also
keep guard during the night; for he could not consent to run any risk of
losing the intended head of the female department of the Fort Mifflin
Institute. He averred that his sense of hearing was so acute that he
could instantly detect the approach of any creature,—no matter if it was
a weasel, or the tiny serpent that sometimes moves among the grass.
Mr. Swipes took his position just in the rear of the large white-covered
wagon in which Florence Brandon was sleeping, all unconscious of the
faithful guardianship which was kept over her. Here he leaned against
the heavy rear wheel, and gave himself up to cogitation.
The young hunter, toward the middle of the night, made a circuit of the
encampment; and, as he came back, observed the figure of the man leaning
against the wagon, and concluded to test the extreme watchfulness of
which he had boasted. Walking rather lightly, therefore, he approached
him from behind, and, finding he attracted no attention, he stepped more
heavily until he was making more than usual noise. Still the vigilant
sentinel did not turn his head, and Fred noticed that he was muttering
something to himself.
“No doubt she’ll be just the ticket, I swan if she won’t; but to wake
her now, or to wait till morning is the question. I’d have a better
chance to talk it over with her, and by jingo! I’ve a good notion to
give the wagon a rattle so as to wake her up——Injins! Injins!”
At that instant, the heavy hand of the young hunter grasped the Yankee’s
shoulder, and, fully assured that he was in the power of the dreaded
Cherouka, he sprang several feet from the ground, and shouted at the top
of his voice; but, confronting Wainwright, and immediately comprehending
his mistake, added in fully as loud a tone,
“No Injins! No Injins! I was mistaken! Jingo! what’s the use of scaring
a fellow that way?” he demanded, still shivering from the shock he had
received.
“I didn’t know you were so easily frightened.”
“But you come on a feller so suddent like,—didn’t give me time to
collect my presence of mind.”
“That is about the style that a redskin would have approached you,
except that instead of his hand, he would have brought down his tomahawk
on your head.”
“You don’t say so! I s’pose he would, but then I wouldn’t ’ve let him
come in that style. I’d ’ve fout him mighty hard.”
“Didn’t you tell me, you would detect the approach of an Indian, no
matter how stealthy he came up to you?”
“Well, so I would.”
“Why didn’t you hear me?”
“You didn’t come up like an Indian, as you say yourself.”
“I know that; I made twice as much noise.”
“That is just the reason I didn’t notice you; if you had come up natural
like,—that is as one of your genouine redmen always do, I’d ’ve heard
you, you may be sure.”
“And what would have been the consequence?”
“I would have whipped round with the quickness of lightning, if not a
little quicker, and blowed the audacious redskin to blue blazes, before
he would have known anything or could have said Jack Robinson.”
At this juncture, a figure suddenly appeared among them, which quickly
resolved itself into Ward Lancaster, their guide.
“What’s all this húbub about?”
“Nothing at all, Mr. Lancaster, nothing at all,” replied Swipes.
“But if I aint powerful mistaken, I heern some one yell out that the
Injins were coming.”
Thus fairly detected, the Yankee was compelled to acknowledge the truth,
and receiving a warning from the trapper to “put a stopper in his
meat-trap,” the guide sauntered away to his own post of observation
where he remained until the break of day.
Finally morning came, and with it the pleasant fact that nothing had
been seen or heard of a single redskin since the departure of the party
the evening before. This was a pleasant fact we say, and was a great
relief to the trappers, who had concluded to a certainty that there
would be trouble before the night passed.
As soon as it was fairly light Lancaster and Harling rode out on the
prairie and took a survey of the surrounding country to look for signs
of their enemies. They scrutinized the hills closely, but with the same
result,—nothing was seen or heard regarding them.
“We’ll keep a sharp look-out for the warmints to-day, and if we don’t
see nothin’ of ’em, why it’ll _kinder_ look as though they didn’t intend
to trouble us.”
“Your fear, I suppose, is that Cherouka became so desperately enamored
with the young lady we have in our charge that he may try to take her
away from us against our will.”
“Injins are queer critters,” replied the guide, “and it’s just like ’em
to try some such a trick. I’ve knowed of such things before.”
“That fellow was desperately smitten, wasn’t he?”
“Yes,” drawled the trapper, “but not much more than another person we’ve
got with us.”
“Who is that?” demanded Fred innocently.
“Him as riding alongside of me on his horse. They call him Fred
Wainwright I b’leve; and, if I aint powerful mistaken, the gal has took
quite a shine to him.”
The poor young hunter almost sank from his beast. He never dreamed for
an instant that any one suspected his secret, and he now feared that it
had been discovered by all.
“Shoot me, you’re red in the face as a b’iled lobster,” laughed the
guide perfectly merciless. “It’s plain enough you’re gone any way. Wal,
she’s a pretty critter to look and to have take a hawkerin’ for a
feller.”
“Do you think she has noticed me,—that is—that is—”
“Loves you, why don’t you say?”
“Well, yes, if you please.”
“Can’t say that. When you stepped in atween the Apache and her, all so
sassy and bold, I could see plain enough she rather liked your way of
doing things. I think everything is plain sailing for you.”
There was a vast deal of comfort in the words of the honest hearted
trapper, and the young hunter reflected upon them many a time through
the day. They stirred old emotions in his breast, and nothing that could
have been said by any one—always excepting the fair Florence
herself—could have been more prized or imparted a greater degree of
pleasure.
The journey of the train was resumed, and progressed through the day
without any incident worthy of record. The character of the country
changed, becoming more rugged and precipitous and they came in sight of
several snow-covered peaks, towering against the blue sky beyond, like
masses of white clouds. Now and then, too, a breeze of wind—chilling and
penetrating swept over them, bringing the climate of these icy regions
with it.
Mr. Swipes introduced himself to Miss Brandon during the afternoon, and
regaled her for over an hour with his plans for the successful
establishment of the Fort Mifflin Institute, greatly to her edification
and amusement. She listened patiently to him, and then, as in duty
bound, referred him to “papa,” with which the enthusiastic educator was
compelled to content himself for the time being.
A sharp vigilance was maintained during the entire day; but nothing was
seen of wild Indians although there was any abundance of wild animals.
This fact led the trappers to the hope and half belief that they would
suffer no further molestation from Cherouka and his party at least.
The encampment at night was in a small beautiful grove, on the banks of
a tiny stream of icy cold water, where abundance of the best of fodder
was found. Everything was arranged with the usual care, and, as the
trappers were considerably wearied, Lancaster and Wainwright concluded
to obtain a good night’s rest, while the opportunity was given them.
There was no saying when a like chance would occur.
Harling remained up, taking a general oversight of the sentinels, while
Swipes, as before placed himself in the vicinity of the wagon,
containing the precious person of her whom he intended should help him
make a fame and fortune in the State of the Golden Gate! He affirmed
that she could not be safe unless he were in the immediate vicinity.
It was far beyond midnight, and Leonidas Swipes was soundly sleeping,
when a shadow emerged from the darkness that surrounded the grove, and
stole as noiselessly forward as a phantom. Straight toward the wagon it
glided. Sh! it pauses and glares around in the darkness; the sentinel is
soundly sleeping—now it enters the rear of the wagon; there is a slight
sound but not enough to wake the dilatory sleeper—the next moment he
reappears bearing a form in his arms, with his broad hand pressed over
her mouth,—with the same absolute silence it steals through the
encampment and the next moment Cherouka, the Apache chief has vanished
and with him Florence Brandon.