THREATS--LITTLE WOLF AND BLACK HAWK--TRAGIC DEATH OF HANK
GLUTTER.
His business arrangements satisfactorily completed, towards night,
Hank Glutter was seen setting out for Chimney Rock.
To say the truth, he appeared secretly uneasy, glancing furtively
behind at every sound as he hurried forward like one pursued. By, and
by, out on the solitary highway he walked on with more confidence, and
finally, after assuring himself that he was quite alone, began to let
fall some very energetic expressions in which were mingled the names
of Miss DeWolf, of Black Hawk and of Wycoff.
"She shall never ride Black Hawk again," he muttered, "Miss DeWolf
can't circumvent me. If she has dared to betray me, she will never
tell the story again. I guess my word is as good as hers--I defy
Wycoff." Then followed such expletives as the speaker deemed suitable
to the occasion: but which were suddenly interrupted by the appearance
of Mr. Wycoff mounted upon Black Hawk and apparently in good humor
with himself and all the world.
He evidently did not wish to remember the unpleasant scene of the
previous day, for he partly halted as he came up to Hank, and said
pleasantly, "What luck to-day, Mr. Glutter?"
Hank seeing in him a future victim to his wiles, spread his net right
warily: "Well, Wycoff," he replied," "I have had the good luck to
secure the most desirable corner in the city for my business, and I
intend to keep on hand first class liquors, just such as you like
best; and I consider you a judge of the article."
"How unfortunate that I have given up drinking," said Wycoff with
great gravity.
The corners of Hank's mouth drew down a little, but he replied in the
most persuasive manner, "O well, its never best to drink to excess,
but I hope to have the pleasure, Mr. Wycoff, of treating you to many a
harmless glass."
"I must be going back," said Wycoff, abruptly wheeling round, "I just
rode out a little way to get some of the spirit out of the horse
before Miss DeWolf takes her evening ride."
Hank shook his fist after him, "I'll take the spirit out of the horse,
and out of the girl too," he threatened. "Lucky she hasn't told
Wycoff, I can tell my own story all the better."
Hank had just entered the "pass" when he again caught a view of Black
Hawk in the distance; but this time Little Wolf was the rider. He
drew his breath hard, and in an instant his hand was upon his dirk.
"Now is my time," came from between his closed teeth and he threw
himself behind the trunk of a tree, and in the twilight not a shadow
of him was visible.
On came Little Wolf, sitting her splendid steed right regally. Her
proud, fearless little face was slightly shaded by the waving plumes
in her velvet cap, and her long black robes floated on the evening
breeze.
By constant petting from the hour that he became hers, Black Hawk had
been won, and the intractable, fiery creature, who had hitherto
spurned all control but Wycoff's, readily yielded to Little Wolf's
guiding hand. The sagacious creature had exhibited no little pride in
bearing off his precious burden under the eye of his old master. His
new mistress glorying in her power over him bade him forward and
without a suspicion of danger, entered the fatal pass.
In a moment they were opposite Hank's hiding place, who concentrating
all his energies, made a cat-like spring and caught at Black Hawk's
bridle.
To sheer off, rear high in the air, and plant his fore foot right into
the would-be-murderer's brain, was a feat performed without a sign
from Little Wolf, who sat like one paralyzed, while Black Hawk in a
fury trampled their assailant under his feet. She saw Hank's ghastly
face and flaxen ringlets go down, and she saw his life blood spurting
far over the pure white snow, and the next instant she was borne
swiftly away from the terrible scene.
For some little time Black Hawk had it all his own way, and they were
far out on the main traveled road to Pendleton before Little Wolf made
an effort to check his speed. But suddenly she drew the rein with no
gentle hand.
They had overtaken a lady and gentleman, who were riding leisurely,
evidently quite absorbed in each other's society. One quick, searching
glance revealed the parties to Little Wolf; and she curled her lip in
scorn, as she saw those attentions which Edward had so lately lavished
upon herself, now given to Clara Hastings.
Well might Edward start and strain his eyes after the retreating
figure to which the loud clatter of hoofs had called his attention,
for fleeing fast away was one in whose true heart, he had planted
still another arrow, which would there rankle long, spite of the vow
of eternal forgetfulness even then upon her proud lips.
In order to avoid "The Pass," and its horrors, Little Wolf took a
circuitous route home. She emerged from the wild, unbroken path
through the forest just as Wycoff was begining to feel seriously
uneasy at her prolonged absence.
He eagerly caught at the bridle, "I was afraid Black Hawk had been
playing pranks," he said, patting the animal's neck: "Why, here's
blood upon the beast; I guess he's got rubbed agin a tree. It wan't
exactly safe to come that way, anyhow, but girls will be girls,
there's a natural tendancy in 'em to go into crooked ways," and Wycoff
laughed, as he thought that he had perpetrated a good joke, and looked
at Little Wolf as if he expected her too appreciate it.
"It is Mr. Glutter's blood," gasped Little Wolf, "he attempted to stop
us in the Pass, and Black Hawk trampled upon him."
"Oh! that's it, eh?" said Wycoff. "A knowing critter, that. He's got
the instincts of a woman, and I ain't sure but he knows as much as a
man. Well, I hope Hank is dead, anyhow."
"Oh, don't say so, Mr. Wycoff," said Little Wolf, every particle of
color forsaking her face.
"Well, now if I ain't beat," said the rough man, "I thought you would
be tickled to dance on Hank's grave."
Little Wolf turned silently away and went into the house.
"Well, well," and Wycoff bent a look of inquiry upon Sorrel Top, who
had been out sharing his solicitude for her mistress.
"I guess she feels kinder horrible like, about seeing him mashed," was
Sorrel Top's explanatory reply.
"Well, I'll jest go round and see what his condition is, anyhow."
While Wycoff was on his mission and Little Wolf shut up in her room,
Sorrel Top hastened to communicate the news to Daddy.
"'Tween you and me I'm glad on't," said Daddy, exultingly. I hope he's
dead."
"Well, now, that's heathenish, Daddy, to wish a feller critter dead."
"He wan't no feller critter," said Daddy, indignantly, "he was nothin'
but a liquor-seller: the wust kind tu, fur he knowed just what
mischief he wus a doing to the human race. Yes, and to the brute race
tu, fur I've seen men whallop their hosses nigh about tu death when
they was in liquor."
"I've seen 'em wallop 'em when they want in liquor," said Sorrel Top,
determined as usual to combat Daddy at all hazards.
"'Tween you and me, sich men ain't feller critters, nuther, I reckon
they'll live next door to liquor sellers, by and by," said Daddy, with
self righteous-assurance.
"I'd like to know where you expect to go when you die?" said Sorrel
Top, with a toss of the head."
"Why, I'll go tu that ere place where folks go that du the best they
know."
"Well, you're lucky if you can say you have always done the best you
could," said the other in a tone which clearly indicated a doubt of
Daddy's entire veracity.
"'Tween you and me, I've been thinking that I might hev been more
active in the temperance cause. I guess afore long I'll git up a
temperance lectur and go round deliverin' of it."
"O, pshaw, you wouldn't git no _ordiance_. Would he Fanny?" said
Sorrel Top, appealing to Fanny Green, who had been a silent but not
uninterested listener to the conversation.
"I guess he would," said Fanny, hopefully, "I would attend."
"Of course you would," said Daddy, excitedly, "and the Honey would
too."
"Well, you couldn't tell me nothing more than I know on that pint,"
said Sorrel Top, flinging herself out of the room with an air of
unqualified contempt.
Left alone with Daddy, Fanny ventured to say softly, "Daddy have you
ever prayed about it?"
"About what, Fanny?"
"Why, about people's drinking and selling liquor and those things that
you talk about?"
"Pray about it? why no. What should I pray about it fur? I never pray
about nothing."
Fanny looked shocked. "Don't you know the Bible tells us to pray,
Daddy?"
"Well, I spose it does," Daddy admitted, "but somehow I hev never said
my prayers, since I was a little shaver; I reckon it don't do no good
fur tu pray, no how. My religion is tu do the best I ken."
"But, Daddy, if God tells you to ask for what you want, and you don't
do it, is that doing the best you can?"
"I ruther guess you've got the best of old Daddy, this ere time," said
the old man, stroking the child's sunny locks. "'Tween you and me,
Fanny, I don't know nothin' at all about the Bible. My father and
mother died afore I was old enough fur tu read, and I was bound tu a
man that didn't gin me a big edication, I never seen a Bible in his
house,"
"Then you don't know about Jesus Christ?" said Fanny, quite pitifully
"Laws yes, I've heern ministers preach a leetle about him once in a
while when I went to church fur tu go hum with Recta; but, somehow, I
want much took up with him."
"O, but Daddy, you would have been if you had understood that he was
the best friend you ever had. My mamma used to tell me how he came to
die for us, and how we could not get to Heaven without him. I will
tell you all about it, Daddy, shall I? I told Miss DeWolf, yesterday,
and she looked real glad."
"Laws, Fanny, the Honey is high edicated and knows a heap more than we
do."
"O, yes, of course, Daddy, but then she had never heard it just as
mamma used to tell it; for you know mamma talked just as if she had
lived in the same house with Him, and He had told her Himself all
about the beautiful place for all those that He can take there."
"Well, He may take me," said Daddy.
"O, but you will have to ask him to take you, Daddy," said his little
instructress, opening wide her eyes.
"'Tween you and me, there's the stick, Fanny, I really don't know how
fur tu ask him."
"Why, Daddy, how would you ask him for bread if you were starving?"
"I calculate I'd beg mighty hard if I was in sich a tight place."
Fanny's eyes filled, and Daddy feeling rather uncomfortable, patted
her cheek tenderly.
"You're a fust rate leetle gal, Fanny," he said, "and I'm kinder
thinking I'll look into this ere matter by and by, when I get my
lectur writ."
"May be, if you should ask Him, God would make you think what is the
best thing to say in your lecture," persisted the child.
"Laws, Fanny, I ken think of them ere things myself. All the help I
want is a leetle mite from you about the spellin.
"Wycoff now appeared looking very grave and reported Hank, "stone
dead."