As we rode in counter-directions, I met the chief almost on the instant.
I was slightly surprised that he passed, without taking notice of me!
He could not fail to guess whither I was going: as I was heading
straight for the huntress; and here was no other object to have drawn me
in that direction. He did not even appear to see me! As he passed at a
rapid pace, his eyes were bent forward upon the butte, or occasionally
turned towards the horseman who galloped by his side. The strange
horseman was an Indian. From the absence of the war-costume, I could
tell he had not been engaged in the late conflict, but had just arrived
from some distant journey--no doubt, a messenger who brought news. His
jaded horse and dusky garb justified this conjecture. Equally desirous
of shunning an encounter, I passed the two riders in silence, and kept
on my course. As I drew near to the huntress-maiden, I was speculating
on the reception I might expect, and the explanation I ought to give.
How would she receive me? Not with much grace, I feared; at all events,
not till she should hear what I had to say. The ambiguous and ill-timed
appearance of the Chicasaw, combined with the sinister and dramatic
incident which followed, must have produced on her mind eccentric and
erroneous impressions. The effect would naturally be to falsify, not
only the protestations of her lover, but my own testimony borne in his
behalf, and indeed all else she had been told. It was not difficult to
predict an ungracious reception. As I approached, she gave over
caressing the dog; and once more leaped to the back of her horse. I was
in fear that she would ride off, and shun me. I knew I could easily
overtake her; but a chase of this nature would scarcely have been to my
liking.
"Marian Holt!" I said, in a tone of gentle remonstrance, "your
suspicions are unjust; I have come to offer you an explanation--"
"I need none," interrupted she in a quiet voice, but without raising her
eyes. A gentle wave of her hand accompanied the words. I fancied both
the tone and the gesture were repellant; but soon perceived that I was
mistaken. "I need none," she repeated, "all has been explained."
"Explained! How?" I inquired, taken by surprise at the unexpected
declaration. "Wa-ka-ra has told me all."
"What!--of Su-wa-nee?" A gesture of assent was the answer. "I am glad
of this. But Wa-ka-ra! how knew he the circumstance?"
"Partly from the Mexican to whom your people have communicated them--
partly from the captive Arapahoes. Enough--I am satisfied."
"And you forgive Wingrove?"
"Forgiveness now lies upon his side. I have not only wronged him by my
suspicions, but I have reviled him. I deserve his contempt, _I_ can
scarcely hope to be forgiven."
Light had broken upon me--bright light it was for Wingrove! The
suspicious _duetto_ with the Utah chief was explained. Its innocence
was made further manifest, by what came under my eyes at the moment. On
the arm that was raised in gesture, I observed a strip of cotton wound
round it above the wrist. A spot of blood appeared through the rag!
"Ha! you are wounded?" said I, noticing the bandage. "It is nothing--
merely a scratch made by the point of the knife. Wa-ka-ra has bound it
up. It still bleeds a little, but it is nothing." It was the _role_ of
the surgeon, then, the chief had been playing when seen in that
ambiguous attitude! More light for Wingrove!
"What a fiend!" I said, my reflection directed towards Su-wa-nee. "She
deserved death!"
"Ah--the unfortunate woman! hers has been a terrible fate; and whether
she deserved it or not, I cannot help feeling pity for her. I would to
God it had been otherwise; but this faithful companion saw the attempt
upon my life; and when any one attacks me, nothing can restrain him. It
is not the first time he has protected me from an enemy. Ah me! mine
has been a life of sad incidents--at least the last six months of it."
I essayed to rescue her from these gloomy reflections. I foresaw the
termination of her troubles. Their end was near. Words of cheer were
easily spoken. I could promise her the forgiveness of her lover: since
I knew how freely and promptly that would be obtained.
"Ah, Marian," I said, "a bright future is before you. Would that I
could say as much for myself--for your sister Lilian!"
"Ha!" exclaimed she, suddenly excited to an extreme point of interest,
"tell me of my sister! You promised to do so? Surely _she_ is not in
danger?"
I proceeded to reveal everything--my own history--my first interview
with Lilian--my love for her, and the reasons I had for believing it to
be returned--the departure from Tennessee with the Mormon--our pursuit
of the train, and capture by the Indians--in short, everything that had
occurred, up to the hour of my meeting with herself. I added my
suspicions as to the sad destiny for which her sister was designed--
which my own fears hindered me from concealing. After giving way to
those natural emotions, which such a revelation was calculated to
excite, the huntress-maiden suddenly resumed that firmness peculiar to
her character; and at once entered with me into the consideration of
some plan by which Lilian might be saved from a fate--which her own
experience told her could be no other than infamous.
"Yes!" cried she, giving way to a burst of anguish, "too well know I the
design of that perjured villain. O father! lost--dishonoured! O
sister! bartered--betrayed! Alas! poor Lilian!"
"Nay--do not despair!--there is hope yet. But we must not lose time.
We must at once depart hence, and continue the pursuit."
"True--and I shall go with you. You promised to take me to my home!
Take me now where you will--anywhere that I may assist in saving my
sister. Merciful heaven! She, too, in the power of that monster of
wickedness!"
Wingrove, wildly happy--at once forgiving and forgiven--was now called
to our council. The faithful Sure-shot was also admitted to the
knowledge of everything. We might stand in need of his efficient arm.
We found an opportunity of conferring apart from the Indians--for the
_scalp-dance_ now engrossed their whole attention. Withdrawing some
distance from the noisy ceremony, we proceeded to discuss the
possibility of rescuing Lilian Holt from the grasp of that knave into
whose power the innocent girl had so unprotectedly fallen.