I walked out towards the stream. The lovers met me halfway. As I
looked in their eyes, illumined and sparkling with the pure light of
love, I hesitated in my intent. "After all," thought I, "there will not
be time to tell her the whole story. The Indians will soon be on the
ground. Our presence will be required in the council; and perhaps it
will be better to postpone the revelation till that is over? Let her
enjoy her new-found happiness for an hour longer."
I was thus hesitating--at the same time looking the beautiful huntress
in the face--when, all of a sudden, I saw her start, and fling from her
the hand she had been hitherto holding in her fond clasp! The look of
her lover--mine as well--was that of bewildered astonishment. Not so
hers. Her cheek turned pale--then red--then paled again; while a glance
of proud anger shot forth from her eyes! The glance was directed
outwards to the plain, back upon Wingrove, and then once more quick and
piercing towards the plain. Equally puzzled by her look and behaviour,
I faced round in the direction indicated by her glance. I had the
explanation at once.
The chief, Wa-ka-ra, had arrived at the butte; and sat halted upon his
war-steed by the side of the waggon. There were three or four other
Indians around him, mounted and afoot; but one on horseback was entirely
unlike the rest. This one was a woman. She was not bound, yet it was
easy to see she was a captive. That could be told by the way she was
encircled by the Indians, as well as by their treatment of her. She was
on horseback, as already stated, and near to the Utah chief--in front of
him. Neither Wingrove nor I had any difficulty in identifying the
captive. It was Su-wa-nee, the Chicasaw. The eye of jealousy had found
her equally easy of identification: since it was by it she was first
recognised. It was upon her that Marian was directing those lightning
glances. It was her presence that had caused that convulsive start, and
those fearful emotions, that now proclaimed themselves in the
countenance of the huntress-maiden.
The storm soon burst. "Perjured hypocrite! this is the love you have
sworn--with the oath still burning upon your lips? Once more betrayed!
O man! Once more betrayed! O God! would that I had left you to your
fate!"
"I declar', Marian--"
"Declare nothing more to me! Enough--yonder is your attraction--yonder!
Oh! to think of this outrage! Here--even here to the wild desert has
he brought her; she who has been the cause of all, my unhappy--Ha! she
is coming up to you! Now, sir, meet her face to face--help her from her
horse--wait upon her! Go! villain, go!"
"I swar' Marian, by the livin'--"
His speech was interrupted. At that moment Su-wa-nee, who had shot her
horse clear from the _entourage_, of her guards, came galloping upon the
ground. I was myself so surprised at this proceeding, that I could not
stir from the spot; and not until the Chicasaw had passed directly in
front of us and halted there, could I believe that I was otherwise than
dreaming. Wingrove appeared equally the victim of a bewildered
surprise. As Su-wa-nee drew up, she gave utterance to a shrill scream;
and flinging herself from her horse, rushed onward in the direction of
Marian. The latter had turned away at the conclusion of her frantic
speech; and was now close to the bank of the stream, with her back
towards us. There was no mistaking the intention of the Chicasaw. The
hideous expression of her face--the lurid fire burning in her oblique
eyes--the white teeth shining and wolf-like--all betrayed her horrid
design; which was further made manifest by a long knife seen glittering
in her grasp! With all my voice I raised a warning shout! Wingrove did
the same--so, too, the Utahs, who were following their captive. The
shout was heard, and heeded. Fortunately it was so: else in another
instant warning would have been too late, and the vengeful Chicasaw
would have launched herself upon her unconscious victim. The huntress
faced round on hearing the cry. She saw the approaching danger; and,
with the subtle quickness of that Indian nature common to both, she
placed herself in an attitude of defence. She had no weapon. Her late
love scene needed none. Her rifle had been left by the butte, and she
was without arm of any kind; but, quick as thought, she wound the
Mexican _serape_ about her wrist, and held it to shield her body from
the threatened thrust. The Chicasaw paused, as if to make more certain
of her aim; and for a moment the two stood face to face--glaring at each
other with that look of concentrated hate which jealousy alone can give.
It was the enraged tigress about to spring upon the beautiful panther
that has crossed her path.
All this action was well-nigh instantaneous--so quick in its occurrence,
that neither I nor Wingrove could get up in time to hinder the
assailant. We both hastened forward as fast as it was in our power; but
we should have been too late, had the thrust been better aimed, or less
skilfully avoided. It was given. With a wild scream the Chicasaw
bounded forward and dealt the stroke; but, by a dexterous sleight, the
huntress received it on the _serape_, and the blade glanced harmlessly
aside. We hurried onward to get between them; but at that moment a
third combatant became mingled in the fray, and the safety of Marian was
secured.
It was not the hand of man that had rescued her; but an ally whom,
perhaps, she deemed more faithful. It was the dog Wolf! The impetus
which the Indian had given to the thrust, and its consequent failure,
had carried her past her intended victim. She was turning with the
design of renewing the attack, when the dog rushed upon the ground.
With a savage growl the animal sprang forward; and, vaulting high into
the air, launched himself on the breast of the Chicasaw--at the same
instant seizing her by the throat! In this position he clung--holding
on by his terrible teeth, and aided by his paws, with which he kept
constantly clawing the bosom of the Indian! It was a painful spectacle;
and now that Marian was safe, Wingrove and I ran on with the intention
of releasing the woman from the grasp of the dog. Before we could get
near, both victim and avenger disappeared from our sight! The Indian in
her wild terror had been retreating backward. In this way she had
reached the bank; and, having lost her footing, had fallen back downward
upon the water! As we arrived upon the edge, neither woman nor dog was
visible. Both had sunk to the bottom! Almost on the instant they
re-appeared on the surface, the dog uppermost; and we saw that his teeth
were still fastened upon the throat of his human victim! Half-a-dozen
men leaped into the water; and, after a struggle, the savage animal was
dragged from his hold. It was too late. The sharp incisors had done
their dread work; and, as the body of the wretched woman was raised over
the bank, those who lifted it perceived that the last breath had gone
out of it. The limbs were supple, and the pulse no longer beat.
Su-wa-nee had ceased to live!