"That darnationed devil of a Chicasaw."
"What! Su-wa-nee?"
"Yes--Su-wa-nee."
"Oh--that cannot be? It could not be her?"
"So I'd a thort myself; but darn me, capt'n! if I kin b'lieve it wa'nt
her. What I seed war as like her as two eggs."
"What did you see?"
"Why, jest arter I'd killed the goat, an' war heisting it on my
shoulders, I spied a Injun glidin' into the bushes. I seed it war a
squaw; an' jest the picter o' the Chicasaw. She 'peared as ef she hed
kim right from hyar, an' I thort you must a seed her."
"Did you get sight of her face?"
"No, her back war torst me, an' she kep on 'ithout turnin' or stoppin' a
minnit. 'Twar the very duds that girl used to wear, an' her bulk to an
inch. It kudn't a been liker her. Darn me, ef 'twan't eyther her or
her ghost!"
"It is very improbable that it could have been either?"
I did not for a moment entertain the idea that it was the Chicasaw he
had seen; and yet my comrade was fully impressed with the belief, and
reiterated the assertion that he had either seen Su-wa-nee or her
"shadder." Though the thing was improbable, it was not beyond
possibility. We knew that there were Indians travelling with the train:
we had heard so before starting out. But what likelihood was there of
Su-wa-nee being among them? Certainly not much. That there were
prairie Indians around us, was probable enough. We had already observed
their traces upon the ground of the deserted camp. The "squaw" seen by
Wingrove might be one of these.
Whether or not, her presence proved the proximity of red-skins; and the
knowledge of having such dangerous neighbours, summoned us to a fresh
exercise of vigilance and caution. Our fire was instantly extinguished;
and, contenting ourselves with a morsel of the half-broiled
buffalo-beef, we moved to some distance from the spot, before
proceeding, to cook the antelope. A dark covert in the thick woods
offered us a more secure kitchen. There we rekindled our fire--and
roasting the ribs of the prong-horn, refreshed ourselves with an ample
meal. After an hour's repose, we resumed our journey--in confident
expectation, that before sunset we should get within sight of the
caravan.