A PUZZLED SOLDIER.
The daring young cavalryman, who would face any danger with a nerve of
iron, fairly started and turned pale under the sudden confession from
Jennie Bernard.
"I have told you a falsehood, for Red Hatchet is the most desperate
leader of the hostiles."
Kit Carey was almost dazed for a moment, and could only look at the
young girl for a more thorough explanation of her strange words and
actions.
Suddenly he recovered himself, and wheeling his horse seemed about to
ride back in pursuit of the Sioux chief.
Discerning his purpose, the girl cried quickly:
"Hold, sir! you would only dash into a peril your daring could never
save you from, while it would be useless to pursue Red Hatchet with the
start he has."
"I believe you are right in that," he answered, thoughtfully.
"Come, lieutenant, you were to be my escort home," said the young girl.
"It does not appear that you need an escort, Miss Bernard, from any
fear of danger, as the Sioux chief is your friend."
She flushed at his words, for she recognized their significance in an
instant, and, almost eagerly, said:
"Do not spring at conclusions, sir; but come with me, for I have
something to explain, while I may tell you that which may be of
service to you, as an officer of the army. Is your command within call,
may I ask, and is it sufficiently large to keep at bay a force of a
hundred or more redskins?"
Kit Carey was about to answer that he had no command, or one that he
could call upon, when he thought how strange was the manner of the
girl, and her question as to its numbers, while she had shown such
eagerness for the escape of the Sioux chief.
Could her love for the Indian have made her a renegade to her own
people, he wondered.
"Love will cause one to do strange things," he muttered to himself, and
in reply to her question he responded:
"My command will be within call when needed, Miss Bernard, but you were
saying----"
"I am glad you have a force near, for now I breathe more freely,
Lieutenant Kit Carey."
"Ah! And how did you know me as Kit Carey?" he asked, with considerable
surprise, recalling that he had not spoken of himself except as
Lieutenant Carey.
"Are there two of your name in the army, sir?"
"Not two bearing the name of Kit Carey."
"You were lately on the staff of Colonel Crandall at Fort F----?"
"Yes."
"You are the one of whom I have heard a great deal, for your deeds have
often been discussed around our hearth, Lieutenant Carey. I was sure
when you said that your name was Carey that you must be Lieutenant Kit
Carey, as you look like just such a man as he is described as being."
Was the girl trying to gain time for some reason, Kit wondered, that
she talked thus.
The officer was compelled to confess to himself that thus far she was a
riddle he could not solve.
They were riding along the trail side by side now, and as he made no
response to her last remark, she continued, in her frank way:
"I am glad to meet you, Lieutenant Carey, glad that you are the hero of
whom I have heard so much, for now I can be more honest with you."
"I wish you would be, and as an incentive I will say that but for the
fact that I did not wish to discharge a weapon in this vicinity, I
would have killed the Red Hatchet, not captured him."
"And why, sir?"
"I reconnoitered over the ridge and saw him with you, so could only
believe you were his captive."
"His captive?"
"So I supposed, for I did not think that it was possible to be
otherwise, and I went to get my rifle from my saddle-horn when I saw,
upon my return, that you had parted, and he was coming toward where I
stood. Seeing that I could use my lasso, I did so."
"And I heard his cry when taken, saw that a soldier had him, and
returned to tell you that he was not a foe."
"And yet you implied a while since that you had told a falsehood?"
"I said that I had, and I did."
"That is strange. But it is a woman's way, I suppose, which no man need
try to fathom."
"That is severe, not gallant, Lieutenant Kit Carey; but I see that you
misunderstand me wholly, so I will explain, if you will believe me."
"Will you tell me the truth this time?"
"Yes."
"No losing the trail?"
"Honest Injun, no!" she said, with a bright smile that lighted up her
face wondrously.
But instantly a shadow came upon it, and she said, seriously:
"I told you a story because I wished to save Red Hatchet, and I will
tell you why, though thus far it has been a secret to all save four
persons."
"And they are----"
"First, Red Hatchet and myself, afterward my father and my brother were
let in the secret; but now you shall know it."
"I feel honored."
"Do not be sarcastic with me, Lieutenant Carey, for I do not deserve
it."
"Pardon me."
"I will do so, if you will drop sarcasm, and be as sincere as I intend
to be with you."
"I promise."
"Then you shall know just why I wished to save Red Hatchet from death,
and you shall know--my secret," and the cloud that came upon the lovely
face as she uttered the words drove all the sunshine away.