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diff --git a/old/56175-0.txt b/old/56175-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 648c3ce..0000000 --- a/old/56175-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4759 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gray Scalp, by Edward Willett - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Gray Scalp - Or, The Blackfoot Brave - -Author: Edward Willett - -Release Date: December 13, 2017 [EBook #56175] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRAY SCALP *** - - - - -Produced by Craig Kirkwood, Demian Katz and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(Northern Illinois University Digital Library at -http://digital.lib.niu.edu/) - - - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - -Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. - - * * * * * - -Semi-Monthly Novels Series. - -No. 205. - -BEADLE’S DIME NOVELS - -[Illustration] - -THE GRAY SCALP. - -BEADLE AND COMPANY, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. - -Am. News Co., 119 & 121 Nassau St., N. Y. - - * * * * * - -A FOREST HEROINE! - -Beadle’s Dime Novels, No. 206, - -TO ISSUE TUESDAY, JUNE 21st, - -Will present a richly racy romance of the woods, viz: - -BUCKSKIN BILL; OR, The White Demon of the Woods. - -A ROMANCE OF THE BLACKFOOT COUNTRY. - -BY GUY GREENWOOD, AUTHOR OF “THE PHANTOM FOE; OR, THE MAID OF -MONTMORENCI,” ETC. - -Buckskin Bill is a character. The Far West produces many odd specimens -of men, but none whose claim to oddity is stronger than Bill’s. Rough -as a bear, he is gentle as a fawn. Brave as a lion, he is afraid of a -young girl’s frown. Untutored as a savage, he is yet as wise and shrewd -as a minister of war. - -In his daughter we have his perfect contrast. The beautiful child-woman -is not only grace itself, but is bravery itself; and though apparently -as wild as the mustang which she rides, is as true to a pure woman’s -instincts as if raised as a petted child of the parlor. - -The secondary persons of the stirring story are the captain of the -expedition of observation; the dreaded Demon Slayer, whose track seemed -marked with the blood of the Blackfeet, and the Indian chief, whose -cunning and thirst for scalps gives the leading incidents to the drama. - -The novel is alive with action, rapid in its incident-movement, -exciting and strange. - -☞ For sale by all Newsdealers and Booksellers; or sent, post-paid, to -any address, on receipt of price--Ten Cents. - -BEADLE AND COMPANY, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. - - * * * * * - -[Illustration] - - * * * * * - - - - -THE GRAY SCALP; OR, THE BLACKFOOT BRAVE. - - - BY EDWARD WILLETT, - - _Author of the following Dime Novels_: - - 10. _THE HIDDEN HOME._ - 111. _NED STARLING._ - 119. _THE FIVE CHAMPIONS._ - 125. _THE HUNTED LIFE._ - 132. _OLD HONESTY._ - 139. _THE BORDER FOES._ - 145. _THE MOUNTAINEER._ - 149. _THE HUNTER’S PLEDGE._ - 159. _SNOW-BIRD._ - 170. _BORDER AVENGERS._ - 187. _THE OUTLAWS’ PLOT._ - - NEW YORK: - BEADLE AND COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, - 98 WILLIAM STREET. - - * * * * * - -Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by - -BEADLE AND COMPANY, - -In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for -the Southern District of New York. - -(No. 205.) - - * * * * * - -THE GRAY SCALP. - - - - -CHAPTER I. A MIDNIGHT ATTACK. - - -“Hurrah for Oregon! says I. That’s the place for Denny, and mesilf is -the boy who is bound to have a good shlice av the fine lands, and who -has a better right?” - -“What’s the fool talkin’ about? Thar’s no sech place as Oregon, greeny. -That kentry thar is called Oregon, and it’s an Injun name, I reckon.” - -“An Injun name! The ignorance av yez! It was named for Michael O’Regan, -who first diskivered it, as ye might read in the histories, if ye could -read at all. He was an Irishman, from the county Donegal, and was me -grandfather’s first cousin on the mother’s side. We dhropped the O’ -whin we kim across the say; but that don’t hindher me from claimin’ a -shlice av the fine lands that once belonged to me grandfather’s cousin.” - -“I don’t believe a word of it, Denny Regan. Of all the liars that were -ever turned loose in this yere kentry, I reckon you are about the -infarnalest.” - -“Is it a liar ye are callin’ me, Misther Pap Byers? Ye’ve got it to -take back, or feel the edge av me knife.” - -“You had better shut up, both of you. Captain Benning gave orders that -there should be no talkin’ around the camp to-night, and he’ll give -you a proper good blowin’ up if he ketches you at it. Here he is, by -thunder!” - -The first speaker was Dennis Regan, a young Irishman, who, although -he had turned trapper, had not discarded his brogue with his brogans, -or his natural character with his corduroys. The second was John -Byers, commonly called Pap Byers, a middle-aged free trapper, of long -experience on the plains and in the mountains. In person he was tall, -gaunt, sinewy and solemn, while the Irishman was short and stout, -with fat cheeks and a merry face. The third speaker was Sam Glass, a -hired trapper, in the employ of Mr. Robinette, the fur-trader to whose -company all were attached. - -Captain Benning, who came up just as Sam Glass mentioned his name, -was a tall young man, well built and fine looking, with an appearance -of activity, nerve and daring. He was one of the leaders of the party -under Mr. Robinette, and was regarded as an excellent “partisan.” - -“What is the meaning of this noise?” asked the captain, frowning upon -the group. “Don’t you know that orders were given to keep the camp -quiet to-night?” - -“It was Denny Regan here,” replied Pap Byers. “The durned fool was -tryin’ to make us believe that Oregon was diskivered by an Irishman, -and named arter him.” - -“And this ould sinner called me a liar, capt’in dear, and that’s what -ye wouldn’t like to be called yersilf.” - -“No matter who began it, or what it was about; it must be stopped. -There are Indians all around us, and they may be down upon us at any -moment. I have been obliged to leave my patrol to come and put a -stop to your noise, and there is no telling what may happen during -my absence. Hark! I believe something is already the matter with the -horses.” - -In an instant the attitude and air of the four men were changed. With -countenances expressive of anxiety, they leaned forward, listening -intently to catch the slightest sound that might indicate an alarm. - -“You’re right thar, cap’n!” exclaimed Byers, seizing his rifle and -jumping up; “the red-skins are among the hosses.” - -All rushed toward the camp, to give the alarm, and to search for the -wily enemy; but they were too late. - -The horses were already stampeded, and came bursting through the camp -like an avalanche, overthrowing every thing before them. After them, -with terrific yells and whoops, poured a crowd of half-naked savages, -splendidly mounted, galloping like mad after the frightened herd. - -Captain Benning and his companions fired at the Indians, and a few -straggling shots from the camp showed that some attempt at defense was -made there; but the furious rush of the animals prevented any thing -like an organized resistance. It is probable that the assailants had -not intended, at first, any thing more than a stampede; but the route -taken by the horses had thrown the camp into such confusion, that the -massacre and plunder of the party of white men seemed to follow as a -matter of course. - -The voices of the leaders were heard, far above the din, directing the -movements of their followers. A few of the warriors rode on after the -herd, to keep the animals together and guide their course; while the -others turned and dashed upon the scattered and bewildered whites, -hoping to slay them before they could recover from their confusion. - -But a party of more than thirty mountain men was not to be so easily -discomfited. The hardy trappers and hunters, accustomed to savage -combats, availing themselves of the shelter of the wagons and packs, -stood gallantly on the defensive, loading and firing their rifles with -a rapidity and precision that soon checked the fury of the onset. The -savages, who fought at a disadvantage on horseback, were in their turn -thrown into confusion and forced back. - -Again the voices of the leaders rung out, and a portion of the warriors -dismounted, to renew the combat on foot, while others circled around -the wagons, for the purpose of driving the trappers from their defenses. - -The white men were quickly outflanked, and were gradually forced back, -until they were compelled to take refuge in a thicket, leaving the camp -in the possession of their assailants. - -Having accomplished this much, the savages, as has sometimes happened -to more civilized warriors, made a poor use of their victory. Instead -of pursuing their advantage, part of them fell to plundering the camp -and securing the scalps of the slain. - -It was at this juncture that Benning and his companions, who had been -compelled to make a circuit in order to find their friends, reached -the camp, and poured in a volley upon the flank of the savages. The -trappers in the thicket, profiting by this diversion in their favor, -rushed out, and charged boldly upon the enemy. A few volleys from their -terrible rifles changed the face of affairs, and the savages were soon -flying from the camp as swiftly as they had entered it. Being unable to -pursue them, from lack of horses, the trappers collected in the midst -of the ruins, vowing vengeance against the midnight marauders. - -Out of thirty-five men, six had been killed outright, including Mr. -Robinette, the head of the expedition. It was impossible to say how -many lives had been lost on the side of the Indians, as they had -carried off all their dead and wounded, besides a large amount of -plunder. A few of the remaining white men were wounded, but none -severely. - -After a hurried survey of the field, the question arose by what means -the savages had been enabled to creep upon the camp without being -observed. Angry recriminations ensued, and hard words seemed likely to -lead to hard blows. - -“Perhaps you can tell us who was at fault, Captain Benning?” said Mr. -Laurie, the principal agent of Mr. Robinette. “You should know, if any -man knows.” - -“What good will it do to argue that matter now?” tartly replied -Benning. “Somebody was careless, of course, and perhaps I might put my -finger on the man; but of what use would that be now? The mischief has -been done, and no one knows the extent of it yet. Has anybody seen Miss -Flora?” - -The faces of all changed, and greater consternation than they had yet -shown was now visible among the rough trappers. - -Flora Robinette was the only child of her father, a beautiful -dark-haired and dark-eyed girl of nineteen. Since the death of her -mother, the trader had been so strongly attached to her, that it had -seemed almost impossible for him to separate himself from her. As it -was part of the object of this expedition to establish a post west of -the Rocky Mountains, at which he expected to spend the greater part of -his time, he had at last yielded to her entreaties, and permitted her -to accompany him and share his home in the wilds. He believed that his -party was strong enough to furnish a safe escort, and that she could be -in no danger when the post was established. Her only hardships, as he -supposed, would be such as would result from traveling over the plains, -and from deprivation of the comforts and luxuries of civilization; but -these she had professed herself able and willing to endure. - -She had endured them, so far, without grumbling, and with all apparent -cheerfulness. She had manifested, also, a spirit of daring and love of -adventure, together with a real delight in the fresh air and free life -of the plains, that had charmed the rough men into whose company she -was thrown, and rendered her the idol of them all. It was no wonder -that their cheeks blanched when they were asked if they had seen her. - -No one _had_ seen Flora Robinette since the commencement of the fray. -At the usual hour she had retired to the wagon in which she slept, and -was supposed to have been there when the horses were stampeded and -broke through the camp; but an examination showed that the wagon was -empty. - -On the ground, near the wagon, lay the body of her father, his head, -from which the gray hair on the top had been stripped, surrounded by a -pool of his own blood; but no trace of Flora could be found. A careful -search was made by the disheartened trappers; but it disclosed nothing. -They could only suppose that she had been awakened by the tumult, had -looked out of the wagon, and had thus been espied by the Indians, who -would lose no time in taking possession of such a prize. It was certain -that she had disappeared, leaving no trace. - -When the fruitless search was ended, a great change had come over -George Benning. He stood like a statue, silent and motionless, and one -would have thought, from the expression of his countenance, that every -thing that was worth living for in the world had been taken from him. -His demeanor was so strange, that Martin Laurie, the agent, took him -aside and spoke with him. - -Laurie was a Scotchman, whose age might have been anywhere between -forty and forty-five. He had the sandy hair, red eyes and watery -complexion peculiar to many of his race; but was not really -ill-looking. He was sedate and precise, a shrewd and methodical man of -business, and as such had been highly esteemed by Mr. Robinette. - -“What is the matter with you, Benning?” he asked. “You act very -strangely, and you look as if you had lost all the friends you had in -the world. Can it be possible that the death of Mr. Robinette affects -you so strongly?” - -“No. He was a good man, and I respected him highly; but I have no -special reason to grieve for him.” - -“It must be, then, that it is the loss of Miss Flora that troubles you.” - -“I confess it. If she had been killed, it would have been relief to -know it; but she has been carried away, we know not where, and it is -terrible to think of the fate that may be reserved for her.” - -“You seem to take it harder than any of the rest of us, although you -are in no way related to her. I have noticed, during this journey, that -you were much interested in Miss Flora, and I intended to tell you, as -I now must, that it was her father’s wish that she should become my -wife.” - -“Indeed! Was she aware of it?” - -“I don’t know that she was. She was an only child, as you know, and Mr. -Robinette was possessed of considerable property. It was his desire -that she should marry a careful and prudent man of business, such as -he considered me to be, who would take care that her means were not -wasted.” - -“Be that as it may, Mr. Laurie--and I do not mean to dispute your -word--it is useless to say any more about it now. She is gone, and it -is doubtful if either of us will be permitted to see her again in this -world. There is a chance, however, that she may still be living. I mean -to search for her, and shall never abandon the search while life is -left to me. I will not hinder you, of course, from devoting yourself to -the same object, if you wish to do so.” - -“Now that Mr. Robinette is dead, it is my duty, under his instructions, -to take this party on to the rendezvous west of the mountains, and -follow the plan that he had formed for this season’s work. If I can do -any thing to help you, I will gladly do it.” - -“I only ask for three men.” - -“You may take any three who are willing to follow you. If you succeed, -I suppose you will join us at the rendezvous.” - -“I hardly dare to hope for success. I can only say that I will do my -best.” - -When Laurie and Benning returned to the trappers, they found them -inquiring what Indians they were that had made the attack. - -“They were Blackfeet, I suppose,” said Benning. “How can there be any -doubt about it?” - -“Easy enough, cap’n,” replied Byers. “Do Blackfeet wear Crow blankets -and moccasins?” - -“No.” - -“We have found a Crow blanket and a Crow moccasin on this yere ground, -and that settles the p’int, I reckon.” - -“But the Crows are the friends of the white men, and never attack them.” - -“Wal--I ain’t so sartin of that as you seem to be. I know that they -steal white men’s hosses, and thar’s no end to an Injun’s devilment, -nohow.” - -Some of the party were of the opinion that the assailants had been -Blackfeet; but the majority sided with Byers, convinced by the Crow -blanket and moccasin. - -The next morning, after the bodies of the dead had been buried, Laurie -and his party pushed on with the train toward the west, and Benning set -off on the trail of the midnight assailants, accompanied by Pap Byers, -Sam Glass and Dennis Regan. They were on foot, as no horses had been -left except such as were absolutely necessary for the train; but they -hoped soon to be able to secure a remount. - - - - -CHAPTER II. A PRAIRIE ENCOUNTER. - - -The prairie was limitless. As far as the eye could see, and as much -further as fancy cared to picture, it spread out like an ocean, endless -and eternal. In wave upon wave of many-colored luxuriance, it rolled -onward, until all color melted into the purplish hue of the horizon. -There was, it is true, a thin line of low cottonwoods, marking the -course of some little creek; but that might have been a mere coral -reef in the ocean, or a swath of drifting seaweed. There were, also, -two small islands of trees in the distance; but islands are necessary -to prove the existence of ocean. Far away to the westward could be -dimly descried the shadowy outlines of lofty mountains; but their snowy -peaks, resting among the clouds, could not be distinguished from the -clouds, and fancy could easily suppose that the prairie rolled under -and beyond them, instead of bathing their rough feet in its flowery -waves. As well as vision could decide, the prairie was a limitless -ocean. - -Only a speck in this vast ocean was the figure of a man on horseback, -riding toward the west. He rode slowly, almost listlessly, seeming -absorbed in the beauty of the variegated landscape, given up to the -sweet influences of the exhilarating and odorous atmosphere. - -A fine specimen of a man was this rider, whose age might have been -a few years on the sunny side of thirty. He was fully six feet in -hight, well formed and athletic, with features that a woman would -call handsome, in spite of his bronzed skin. His gray eyes were keen -and restless; his chestnut hair, worn long, after the fashion of the -Indians and trappers, flowed down upon his shoulders in wavy masses; -his mouth was well cut, shaded by a silky mustache; and his beard, -long and full, had the same rich color as his hair. His hunting-shirt -and leggings were of the finest dressed deer-skin, and were richly and -tastefully ornamented. His moccasins, also, showed the patient labor -of some Indian woman, and must have cost the wearer a good quantity -of trinkets or of scarlet cloth, if, indeed, they had not been a -love-gift. His pipe-holder must surely have been a _gage d’amour_; -for it was a triumph of Indian workmanship, such as the squaws of the -plains were not in the habit of selling. A double-barreled rifle, -short, heavy, and richly finished, was his principal weapon, and -rested across his right leg and the pommel of his saddle. A bright and -keen-edged hatchet, or small ax, was stuck in his belt, flanked by a -hunting-knife in an embroidered sheath. From his appearance, he might -have been an independent trapper; but he carried no traps or sack of -“possibles,” and had no animal except the fine jet-black horse which he -bestrode. - -“Nearly noon,” he soliloquized, looking up at the sun. “If I do not -strike the trail of old Robinette’s party before long, I shall conclude -that they are behind me, and it will be necessary to wait for them. I -had better join them, I suppose, as I want an outfit for the coming -season, and I am curious to see whether his daughter is as beautiful as -she has been represented to be. As if that was a matter that concerned -me at all! It is possible that I might find some woman who could -persuade me to quit this wild life; but it lacks a great deal of being -probable. It is possible, though, that I may have strayed from my -course, and I must consult my little true-pointer.” - -Stopping his horse, he drew from the bosom of his hunting-shirt a small -pocket-compass, rested it in the palm of his hand, and watched its -indications. - -“No; I’m on the right track--no mistake about that. I must cross the -trail soon, if they have got this far. Ha! what is coming yonder? A -red-skin, I suppose, and one who wants my scalp. Now, Samson, who knows -but we may have a little brush to stir our blood?” - -The horse pricked up his ears, whinnied, and seemed to anticipate a -combat as eagerly as his master. - -It was a mere speck that attracted the attention of the rider; but it -was a moving speck, and he could easily guess what it meant. When he -caught sight of it, he might have mistaken it for a solitary buffalo; -but a brief inspection showed him that its movements were not those of -the buffalo. Soon something white came into view, and the rays of the -sun, shining upon it, made the speck look like a moving star. - -Within a short time the speck was no longer a speck, but had assumed -the form and proportions of an Indian on horseback. The white man -reined in his horse, took his rifle in his right hand, and awaited the -approach of the stranger. - -When the Indian had come within rifle-shot, the white man judged it -best to signal him and ascertain his intentions. Accordingly, he raised -his right hand, with the palm in front, and pushed it back and forth a -few times. This was a signal to halt; but the savage, after shaking his -head furiously, paid no further attention to it, but put his horse to -full speed, and commenced to circle around his foe. - -Mounted on a jet-black horse, the exact image of that which carried the -white man, he presented a fine appearance as he galloped swiftly over -the plain. He was nearly naked, his blanket being under him, and his -skin shone as if it had been freshly oiled. With fine features, eyes as -fierce and keen as lightning, and supple and sinewy limbs, every motion -showing the play of his muscles, he presented an excellent object for -the study of the painter or the sculptor. His scalp-lock, adorned with -feathers, showed that he held a high rank as a brave. In his right -hand he carried a gun, a bow and a quiver of arrows were slung at his -back, and an Indian battle-ax hung at his left side. On his left arm he -carried a shield, round and white, which was dazzling to the beholder -when the rays of the sun were reflected from it. - -“That red-skin don’t want to talk,” muttered the white man. “He is keen -for fight, and won’t be satisfied until he gets his fill. Well, I think -I can accommodate him.” - -As the Indian circled over the prairie, the white man, with his -rifle at his shoulder, kept turning, so as continually to face his -antagonist. His horse, obedient to the slightest pressure of his knee, -turned where he stood, as if he comprehended, as well as his master, -the best position for defense. - -It was the object of the Indian to draw the fire of the white man; but -he soon perceived that his foe was too wary for him, and he changed -his tactics. Slinging his gun, he took his bow and some arrows from -his shoulder. He then fastened one foot in his wooden stirrup, threw -his body over on the right side of the horse, and again commenced to -ride around the white man, drawing nearer at every circle, until he -was within easy bow-shot, when he began to discharge his arrows at his -antagonist. - -This position of affairs soon became unpleasant to the white man, as -the arrows flew uncomfortably near him, and he was obliged to change -his position. He dismounted, and stood at the side of his horse, -turning as the Indian wheeled, so as to make a breastwork of the -animal. Still the Indian sent his arrows flying, and one of them struck -the horse in the shoulder. - -Smarting with pain, the wounded animal went off at a gallop. As the -Indian raised himself to his seat with a cry of triumph, the indignant -white man discharged one of the barrels of his rifle at him; but the -wily savage had dropped down by the side of his horse. - -Supposing that he had drawn the fire of his enemy, the exultant Indian -again raised himself to his seat, and fired quickly. The white man’s -rifle cracked again at the same instant, and the Indian’s horse fell -upon him. Seeing his enemy entangled by his horse, the white man rushed -upon him with his tomahawk; but, before he could reach him, the Indian -was up, with his battle-ax in his hand. - -The contest was now one of skill and strength; but both parties, having -tried each other’s mettle, fought slowly and warily, husbanding their -wind for an effective stroke. The blows of each were so well parried, -that the combatants became wearied in the encounter before either had -sustained any serious injury, and they drew back, as if by mutual -consent, to recover breath. - -At this juncture a sudden thought seemed to strike the Indian, who -raised both of his hands above his head, with the forefingers locked. -This, in the pantomimic language of the plains, understood by all the -prairie Indians, was a sign of friendship. He then threw his battle-ax -behind him, and stepped forward three paces, extending his right arm -with the hand open. - -The white man hesitated a moment, and then, as if ashamed of himself -for mistrusting his late adversary, dropped his tomahawk, and advanced -in his turn with extended hand. - -“If you really are a friend, red-skin,” he said, in the Dacotah -dialect, “you have a strange way of showing it; but I am willing to -forget and forgive.” - -“My white friend is a warrior,” replied the Indian. “He is a great -brave, and I am glad that I have met him. Let him come with me, and he -shall share my lodge, and shall be my brother.” - -“Perhaps we had better wait a little before going so far. I am not -quite so ready to join hands with a man who has just sought my life. -You are a Blackfoot, I should say, judging from your paint. What name -do you go by?” - -“My brother has guessed well. I am a Blackfoot, and am a great brave -among my people, who have named me White Shield. What is my brother -called?” - -“My name is Fred Wilder, and the red-skins call me Silverspur, because, -I suppose, I have always worn one of those articles among them.” - -The young man reached out his foot, showing a large silver spur, with a -steel rowel, strapped upon his moccasin. - -“I have heard of Silverspur from the Grovans and the Kickarees, as -well as from the Sioux. He is a great warrior, and I am proud to know -him. Let him share my lodge and be my brother. My people will be glad -to see him.” - -“But the Blackfeet are enemies of the whites. How do I know but they -may take my scalp.” - -“White Shield is a great brave, and the Blackfeet will do what he tells -them to do. They will never harm his brother, but will love and honor -him.” - -“But I am a trapper, and must hunt beaver and otter. I am looking for -the party of Mr. Robinette, which is on its way to the mountains. I -must get traps and an outfit from them. Has White Shield seen them or -heard of them?” - -“I have heard of them; but they have not yet come into this country. My -brother need give himself no trouble about them. Let him come with me, -and he will find traps, and I will show him better beaver-streams than -he has ever seen. He can live among the Blackfeet and trade with them, -and can get more skins than any other trader.” - -It may have been the love of adventure that moved Fred Wilder, or it -may have been the desire of gain, stimulated by the prospect that the -Blackfoot held out to him. Impulsively he grasped the hand of White -Shield, and the two pledged eternal friendship and brotherhood after -the Indian fashion. - -“My brother was fighting me a few moments ago,” said Wilder. “Why was -he so anxious to kill me? It is seldom that you red-skins dare to -attack a white man singly, unless you have an advantage over him.” - -“White Shield is no coward,” replied the Blackfoot. “It is long since I -have taken a scalp, and my people have lately suffered many reverses. -I wished to carry home a scalp, so that the Blackfeet in my village -might wash the mourning paint from their faces. I did not know that my -brother had the advantage of me, in owning a rifle that would shoot -twice. I never saw such a rifle.” - -“I had the advantage of you in another point, after your horse was -killed. You were afoot, while I might have mounted at any moment.” - -Wilder whistled, and his horse, which was grazing at a little distance, -came running to him. He examined the wound, which was a slight one, -and transferred to the back of the horse the Indian’s saddle and -blankets and bridle. The two then set out toward the north-west, White -Shield leading the way on foot. - - - - -CHAPTER III. A SERIOUS REVERSE. - - -When George Benning and his three companions set out on the trail of -the marauders who had attacked their camp, they were all afoot; but -they hoped soon to be able to get a remount, at the expense of some -Indian horse-owners. The Indians always did their horse-stealing on -foot, and there was no good reason why white men should not imitate -their example. - -“That sounds very well, cap’n,” said Sam Glass, when Benning had -presented this view of the subject, “and it will be easy enough to do, -no doubt, purvided that we ken find the Injuns; but we may hev to tramp -many a mile, afore we came up on a village.” - -“No trouble about that, boy,” replied Pap Byers. “We’ll find Injuns -enough, I warrant ye. The only p’int is, that we must be cautions and -quiet, and I’d like to know how this yere Irishman’s tongue is to be -kep’ still.” - -“Is it me tongue that you’re spa’kin’ of?” snapped Dennis Regan. “Sure, -me tongue is as ready as your hand, any day.” - -“That’s the trouble, Denny. It is a heap too ready, and is sartin to -shoot off when it ain’t wanted to.” - -“It hits the cinter ivery time, and that’s more’n can be said av your -rifle.” - -“We won’t quarrel about it,” interposed Captain Benning. “It is certain -that Denny must learn to keep quiet, or he may bring us all into -another scrape. Tramp is the word, boys.” - -It was not until the evening of the second day after they had started -on the trail, that the party perceived indications which led them to -believe that they were in the vicinity of an Indian village. Proceeding -a little further, they heard the sound of bells, which the Indians -sometimes attach to their horses, proceeding from a ravine a short -distance to the left of the trail. - -By a careful reconnoissance it was discovered that there was a large -drove of horses in the ravine, feeding loose, on both sides of a little -stream. The party withdrew to lay their plans, and it was arranged -that they should enter the ravine, where each should select two horses -from the drove, and should bring them to the head of the ravine, where -all were to rendezvous. Benning was especially careful to warn his -companions to be cautious and quiet, and to take no more horses than -were necessary. - -The four men entered the ravine at different points, and proceeded -to select and secure their horses. This was accomplished without any -misadventure, and Benning was the first to reach the head of the -ravine, where he was soon joined by Pap Byers and Sam Glass, each -mounted and leading a horse. - -“We have succeeded very well so far,” said the captain. “With these -horses under us, and fresh ones to rest them, we ought to have the -heels of any red-skins. Where is Dennis?” - -“He’ll be along directly, I reckon,” replied Byers. “Thar he comes, on -a run! What in thunder has the durned fool been doin’?” - -The Irishman came up the ravine at a gallop, mounted on a fine mare, -and leading two horses. The mare had a bell fastened to her neck, -which clattered furiously as he rode up to his companions. Benning’s -face turned pale with anger, but he controlled himself and spoke quite -composedly. - -“Why have you brought three horses when I told you to take but two? And -why did you choose that bell mare? Don’t you know that the noise will -bring the Indians down upon us?” - -“The mare was the finest av the lot, capt’in dear. She’s betther than -both the others, if I’m a jidge av horseflesh.” - -“That bell will be the ruin of us. It is a wonder that the whole drove -has not stampeded after her.” - -“I was m’anin’ to take it aff, sir, as soon as I could git the cratur’ -quiet,” replied Dennis, as he dismounted. - -The head of the ravine, where the four men were collected with their -horses, was quite narrow, with steep sides, which were covered pretty -thickly with trees and undergrowth. Darkness was rapidly succeeding to -dusk, and all were impatient to be off. - -As Dennis dismounted, one of his led horses slipped its thong, and -started off. When he turned hastily to catch it, he loosed the mare, -which galloped away at full speed, her bell clattering noisily as she -went. Directly there was a great commotion among the herd of horses -down in the ravine, and it was evident that they were stampeding. - -“Tare an’ ouns!” exclaimed the indignant Irishman. “The bloody divil -has got away, afther all me throuble. May ivery hair on her tail turn -to a hickory sthick, to bate her as long as she can dhraw a breath.” - -“Hold your clattering tongue!” exclaimed Benning. “You make more noise -than the infernal bell. The Indians will be down on us in no time, and -we may thank our stars if we get out of this scrape. Mount the horse -you are holding, and ride as if fire were behind you.” - -Dennis was about to mount, when he was suddenly seized from behind, and -dragged into the bushes. The next instant the ravine was vocal with -savage yells, and the white men found themselves surrounded with savage -Indians. - -Escape seemed impossible; but Benning was not a man to lose his life -without an effort to preserve it. Loosing his led animal, he discharged -his rifle at the group of Indians before him, and then, putting his -horse to the top of his speed, dashed down the ravine, overturning and -scattering his antagonists as he went. - -Bullets and arrows flew after him; but he sped on unhurt, until he -had gone about a quarter of a mile, when his horse suddenly stopped, -in front of a perpendicular wall of rock, that seemed to close up the -ravine. - -Bewildered at meeting this unexpected obstacle, he was about to turn -and endeavor to cut his way back in the opposite direction, when he -reflected that he had been following the bed of a stream, which must -surely cañon at the wall of rock. - -Straining his sight through the growing darkness he saw what seemed -to be an opening, and pushed his horse for it, bending down upon the -horse’s neck, to save his head from contact with the rocky roof. The -horse went forward, slowly but surely, and Benning thought that he was -about to emerge from the cañon, when, to his great dismay, he found -himself wedged fast in the opening. With words and kicks he tried to -force his steed forward, but it would not budge. He had given himself -up for lost; but an arrow from behind struck his horse in the rear, -and, with a violent effort, it squeezed through the aperture. - -Hardly had Benning issued from the cañon, when another peril confronted -him. The horse stopped at the brink of a precipice. The rider could see -that a prairie stretched out below him; but he could not guess how far -down it might be, or what might await him at the foot of the rock. - -There was no time for consideration. His pursuers were close -behind him. He had to choose between certain death at the hands of -the savages, and a fearful leap in the dark. He chose the latter -alternative; but his horse refused to take the leap, backing away from -the abyss, and snorting and trembling with terror. Drawing his knife, -he struck it into the haunch of the animal. Maddened by the pain, the -horse sprung forward into the gloom, and alighted, unhurt, upon the -soft turf below. - -Benning rode away, slowly, thankful that his life had been preserved, -and reflecting sadly upon the fate of his companions. - -Of these, Dennis Regan had been pinioned as soon as he was seized, Sam -Glass had been shot dead while attempting resistance, and Pap Byers had -been soon overpowered and bound. - -After relieving Glass of his scalp, the Indians took their two captives -to the village, which was situated a short distance from the ravine in -which their horses were kept. - -In order to confine the captives, they were laid on their backs in the -middle of the village, with their arms and legs stretched out, and -tied by the hands and feet to stakes driven in the ground. In this -uncomfortable position they were obliged to pass the night, while the -savages made merry over their victory. - -“See what a fix you have brought us into, you crazy little red-headed -wretch!” exclaimed Pap Byers, after he had chafed and cursed himself -into a perspiration. - -“It’s none of my bringin’, you spider-shanked, pickle-faced ould -drumhead!” replied Dennis. “It was jist that murtherin’ divil av a -sorrel mare that up-ended us and stretched us out here; but, fur all -that, who knows but I’m the boy who will bring us safe out av this?” - -“Talk’s cheap, boy. Ken ye bring Sam Glass back to life? Thar’s Cap’n -Benning too; it’s likely that he’s got his pill afore this. Ken ye do -any thin’ fur him?” - -“The mithers av ’em can’t be more sorry fur the boys than is Denny -Regan; but it’s the divil’s own tongue that says I fotched ’em into -the scrape. If I was on me feet, I’d make yez swaller that same, you -dried-up old wolf-skin.” - -“Quarrelin’ won’t mend the matter; but you know as well as I do, Denny, -that it was your loose tongue and your crazy ways that made all the -trouble.” - -“I know it jist as well as you do, and that’s not at all. Tell me, now, -Pap Byers, what Injuns is these that’s got us?” - -“Blackfeet--the bloodiest, meanest and most savagerous of all the -red-skins in these parts.” - -“And what will they do wid us?” - -“Kill us--tortur’ us--burn us, most likely.” - -“Is it burnin’ ye say? Och, be the powers! it makes me flesh crawl to -think av it. The bloody haythins! Is it sure enough burnin’ that they -do, or do they jist bother a man and let him go?” - -“It’s burnin’, I tell ye--burnin’ by a slow fire--roastin’, fryin’, -br’llin’. Thar ain’t any let go about it; it holds on fur hours, and -you suffer death a dozen times afore you die onst.” - -“Howly mither of Moses! That bates purgatory, intirely. To think that -one av the ould shtock av the O’Regans should be roasted alive! I -vow to the blissed Vargin, if I can only git clare of this shcrape, -I’ll not shpake a mortal word to any livin’ man--or woman, fur that -matter--fur a long six months, and I’ll begin at onst to kape me vow.” - -The Irishman was silent. Byers spoke to him after a while; but Dennis -did not reply. Again Byers spoke to him; but a snore was the only -answer he received. - -“I do believe,” said he, “that the durned fool has gone to sleep. I -wouldn’t hev thought that burnin’ would set so easy onto his stummick.” - - - - -CHAPTER IV. ASTONISHING THE BLACKFEET. - - -Fred Wilder accompanied his new friend without any doubt or hesitation. -He knew that the word of an Indian was sacred, when pledged to his -adopted brother, and he felt no uneasiness as to the treatment he would -receive among the Blackfeet. - -In the course of three days they arrived safely at the Blackfeet -village, where White Shield introduced his brother, Silverspur, as a -great warrior, a man wonderful for strength of arms, keenness of eye, -activity of limb, and bigness of heart. He related the particulars of -the encounter in which he had formed the acquaintance of the white man, -and gave him credit for extraordinary bravery and skill. He concluded -by declaring that Silverspur was his sworn brother, and must be treated -as such; that he must have full liberty to live among the Blackfeet, to -hunt, fish and trade as he pleased, and to go and come as might suit -his pleasure. - -Instead of being displeased at the arrival of the white man, the -Blackfeet appeared to be very well satisfied, and passed many encomiums -upon White Shield for having brought such a valuable accession to their -tribe. Some of them had heard of Silverspur, and could echo the praise -that White Shield bestowed upon him. His rifle had sent death to more -than one Blackfoot warrior, and they knew it; but that only added to -his glory as a warrior, and they were proud to claim him as one of -themselves. Good Ax, the head chief, granted him unlimited trading -privileges, and invited him to “marry and settle”--in other words, to -select a wife, or as many wives as he wanted. - -Silverspur, whose heart had not been enamored by the fair-skinned -beauties of his own race, and who was not likely to yield to -the fascinations of any dusky damsel, evaded the matrimonial -responsibility, saying that he thought it best to wait until he became -better known, and that, in the mean time, he would share the lodge of -White Shield, who happened to be a bachelor. - -A few days after his introduction to the Blackfeet, on his return from -a hunting-excursion, he found that a war-party, which had been absent -for some time, had arrived at the village. They had been victorious -over their adversaries, but had lost a few of their number, for which -reason they were debarred from dancing, or rejoicing over their -victory. On the contrary, the village was filled with mourning, and the -wailing of the mourners, together with the horrible manner in which -they mangled themselves, so disgusted the young man that he did not -care to inquire further concerning the affair. - -Soon after this, there was an alarm at the village, occasioned by the -attempt of some marauders to steal horses. Most of the warriors went -out to meet the enemy; but Fred Wilder, who did not care to expose his -life in the quarrels of the red-men, remained in his lodge, smoking -his pipe, and mentally abusing himself for the roving disposition that -brought him into “the tents of Ishmael.” - -The affair was soon quieted, and the warriors returned in high glee. -They had captured two prisoners, as White Shield informed his friend, -and had taken a scalp. The mourning in the village, therefore, was -at an end. All washed their faces, and prepared for a dance and a -jollification. - -As sleep was out of the question, in the midst of such an uproar, -Wilder sallied out and joined the dancers. The scalp which was the -occasion of the revelry, together with one which had been brought in -by the war-party, was suspended upon a pole, and Wilder inspected -them with the others. The hair of one of the scalps was short, black -and curly. That of the other was short, thin and silver gray. It was -evident to the young trapper that neither was the scalp of an Indian, -and he called White Shield aside to speak to him concerning them. - -“That black scalp yonder,” said he, “is not the scalp of an Indian.” - -“No; it is the scalp of a white man.” - -“They were white men, then, who came to steal horses?” - -“Yes; and the two prisoners are white men.” - -“Is the gray scalp the scalp of a white man, too?” - -“Yes. We would have had a big dance over that scalp, if we had not lost -two warriors in the fight. It is the scalp of the white-haired chief.” - -“And who was he?” - -“I thought you knew him. You call him Robinette, the trader.” - -“Whew! The old fellow is dead, then,” said Wilder, musingly. “He was a -strange man, shrewd, daring, but rather unscrupulous, as I have heard. -Did your braves capture his train?” - -“No. They came across his party, and stampeded the horses. As they had -surprised the camp, they thought they might do more; but the white men -beat them off at last. The men who came to-night were his men. They -wanted to get back some of their horses, or to look for the white girl.” - -“What white girl?” - -“The daughter of the white-haired chief.” - -“Is she here?” - -“She is in the village. Has not my brother seen her?” - -“No. I know nothing of her.” - -“You will not be likely to see her for a while, as Good Ax, the head -chief, means to take her into his lodge, and she has been shut up from -the village.” - -Wilder mused a little, and his musings were in this wise: - -Why had Paul Robinette brought his daughter into that wilderness? Why -had he, Fred Wilder, given himself up to an aimless and roving life? -It was very foolish in both of them; but fate had led them to it. It -was the fate of Mr. Robinette to be killed and scalped, and it might be -the fate of him, Fred Wilder, to have come among the Blackfeet to be of -service to the daughter of the murdered man. At all events, she was a -woman, and it was his duty to befriend her. It was his duty, also, to -befriend the two white captives, and their turn might come first. It -would be well for him to see how far he might go with the Blackfeet. - -Turning to White Shield, he said: - -“What will be done with the white prisoners?” - -“They will be burned.” - -“Do you think so?” - -“I am sure of it. They are to be burned early to-morrow morning.” - -“I will bet you, White Shield, ten packs of beaver-skins, that they -will not be burned while Silverspur lives.” - -“What does my brother mean?” - -“I mean that I will not allow them to be burned.” - -“What will you do?” - -“Perhaps I will do nothing; but they shall not be burned.” - -“Has my brother lost his senses? He surely does not mean what he says.” - -“You will see that I mean it. I am going to the lodge, White Shield. I -am tired of this deviltry.” - -Wilder turned his back upon the crowd of dancing and yelling Indians, -and retired to his lodge, where he pondered his own situation and that -of Flora Robinette, until he fell asleep. - -In the morning there was a great commotion in the village. Preparations -were made for the torture of the two white captives, and all the -Blackfeet were early astir. Two stout stakes were set in the ground, -near the middle of the village, and the victims were brought to them, -surrounded and followed by a motley throng of Indians, of all ages and -both sexes. - -Dennis Regan, who had not spoken a word since his vow of the previous -night, was bound to one post, and Pap Byers to the other, and what may -be called the small torturing commenced. Women and children assailed -the white men with all sorts of opprobrious epithets, beat them with -sticks, kicked them, pinched them, pulled their hair, and provoked them -by every means in their power. - -Byers hurled back their taunts indignantly, and abused the Blackfeet -to the best of his ability. He knew what sort of a death they intended -for him, and he hoped to arouse them to such fury that, in a moment of -anger, they might kill him at once. He boasted of the number of their -braves that he had slain, and accused them of cowardice, taunting them -with not daring to take the life of a white man, even when he was bound -before them. They could not hurt him, he said, and he dared them to -do their worst, as a white warrior could teach them how to die. The -Irishman remained silent. When he was spoken to, he pointed to his -tongue, and shook his head; but not a word escaped his lips. - -The warriors soon put a stop to this play. Scattering the women and -children, they brought poles and twigs, which they piled in a circle, -nearly waist high, around the victims. Then, amid diabolical yells and -screeches, fire was put to the piles, and the torture commenced. - -It was not to last long. Hardly had the flames begun to crackle among -the twigs, when Fred Wilder, fully armed, strode into the throng, -kicked away the burning poles, stamped out the fire, and took his stand -near the prisoners, gazing defiantly at the crowd of savages. - -The Blackfeet were astonished at his audacity. Some of them laid their -hands upon their weapons; but all drew back, as if bewildered, and -wondering what might happen next. After a few moments, Good Ax, the -head chief, stepped forward and addressed the intruder. - -“Why does Silverspur seek to interfere with his brothers? Has he -forgotten that when he became a Blackfoot, he ceased to be a white man?” - -“My heart is white, and always will be,” fiercely replied Wilder. “I -can not stand by and see men of my own race murdered. What have these -white men done to you, that you wish to burn them?” - -“We caught them stealing our horses.” - -“They had a right to try to recover the property which you had taken -from them.” - -“But the white men are the enemies of the Blackfeet.” - -“Say, rather, that, the Blackfeet are the enemies of the white men, -who have never mistreated you, and have never fought you except when -you have compelled them to do so. Look at these men! One of them, as -you can see, is not able to speak. Would you slay a man who has been -stricken by the Great Spirit? I say that they shall not be burned while -I live, and I know well that more than one of you will fall before I -die.” - -It is said that a wild beast will shrink from the steady glance -of a brave man. So did the savages quail before the fearless eye -and undaunted demeanor of Fred Wilder. His audacity seemed almost -supernatural, and made them fear that he might have something to back -him which they could not even guess at. - -In a few minutes, however, this feeling passed away. They saw that he -was but a man, as they were, and they began to think of punishing him -for his bold attempt to spoil their sport. Their threatening looks and -hostile attitudes caused him to raise his rifle and level it at the -most demonstrative. In another moment there might have been bloodshed; -but White Shield suddenly changed the face of affairs. Bursting through -the throng, he took his stand by the side of his friend. - -“White Shield is a warrior!” he exclaimed. “He is a great brave, and he -never feared the face of an enemy. There is none who can lay cowardice -or crime to the charge of White Shield. Shall he hang back, like a dog, -when his brother is in danger? Silverspur is his sworn brother, and -he is ready to die for his brother, whether he is right or wrong. He -is not wrong. These white men are his friends, and the Blackfoot who -would not try to save the life of his friend would be called a coward. -Come, my brothers! Who will go to the spirit-land with White Shield and -Silverspur?” - -A number of the relatives of White Shield, both old and young, came -forward, with their weapons in their hands, and ranged themselves by -his side. As the hostile parties confronted each other, the affair -seemed about to assume a serious aspect, when the head chief stepped -forward and spoke. - -“This is a small matter to us,” he said, “and we would do wrong to kill -each other about it. One of these prisoners, as Silverspur has said, -has been stricken by the Great Spirit, and we can easily give the life -of the other to our white brother. Loose them from the stakes, but let -them be securely guarded. They shall live, but they must not leave us -until we move the village. Is Silverspur satisfied?” - -Wilder expressed his satisfaction, and pressed the hand of the chief. -When the prisoners had been led away, and the crowd had dispersed, he -returned to his lodge with White Shield. - - - - -CHAPTER V. THE TEST OF FRIENDSHIP. - - -When Wilder and his Blackfoot friend entered their lodge, the former -sat down without speaking. White Shield gazed at him for some time, -with a sort of admiring awe. - -“My brother is very brave,” said the Indian. “He is almost too brave. -He has done a great thing to-day; but he came near losing his life. He -had better be careful what he does now; for Good Ax looked at him very -strangely, and the hearts of the warriors were hot.” - -“White Shield is a true brother,” replied Wilder, as he grasped the -hand of his friend. “Silverspur will never forget how his brother stood -by him in danger. You tell me that I must be careful what I do; but -there is one thing that I must do. I must see the girl, the daughter of -the white-haired chief.” - -The Indian shook his head, and was silent. - -“I must see the girl,” repeated Wilder. “If you will help me, there -will be no trouble about it. When I say that I will do a thing, I mean -to do it.” - -“I have told you that Good Ax means that she shall be his wife, and no -one can oppose the head chief. My brother had better be careful what he -does.” - -“I tell you that I must see her, and I will see her. I only ask to see -her and speak with her. If my brother will not help me, I will help -myself.” - -The Blackfoot sat in silence a few moments, looking strangely at his -friend. - -“Wait for me,” he said, as he arose and left the lodge. - -After the lapse of an hour, White Shield returned, and beckoned to -Wilder, who arose and followed him. They passed out of the village, -and came to a small stream, on each side of which was a fine growth of -timber. Entering the grove, White Shield pointed ahead of him. - -“She is there,” he said. “I will wait for you, but will not hear you.” - -As Wilder looked in the direction that was pointed out, he caught -sight of a woman’s dress, near the trunk of a large tree. He hastened -forward, and in a few moments was in the presence of Flora Robinette. - -The young lady did not appear to be eager for the meeting. She did not -move from where she stood, and looked at him with wonder and something -of suspicion as he advanced and held out his hand. - -“Who are you?” she asked. - -“A friend.” - -“I wish I could believe it. I was told by the Indian who brought me -here that, if I would wait, I would soon see one of my own race; but -he said that you were no longer a white man; that you had joined the -Blackfeet. What is your name?” - -“I am called Fred Wilder; but it matters not what my name is. I am a -white man and a friend. The Indian hardly told you the truth. He has -taken a fancy to me, has adopted me as his brother, and has introduced -me to his people; but I am far from considering myself one of them. -This morning I saved two white men from death by fire, and I hope to be -able to save you. It is certain that I shall use my best endeavors to -do so. Before this I would have seen you; but I did not know that you -were a captive, until I saw the Indians dancing around the scalps of -your father and another man.” - -“My father’s scalp! Good God! this is horrible. Did they tell you whose -it was?” - -“They told me that it was his, and then I learned the particulars of -the attack upon his train.” - -“There was another scalp, you say--what did it look like?” asked Flora, -with an accent and an air of painful interest. - -“It was the scalp of a white man, and the hair was black, short and -curling.” - -“It was not his,” muttered Flora, with a sigh of relief. - -“Of whom are you speaking?” - -“Of no one in particular--one of our party. I thought that some of my -friends might have followed the trail of the Indians. Do you know who -those two white men were whom you saved from burning?” - -“I do not know their names. One was an Irishman, with red hair, and he -seemed to be dumb.” - -“That might have been Dennis Regan; but he was any thing but dumb.” - -“The other was a tall and lean man, with keen eyes, a crooked nose, and -a very solemn face.” - -“That was surely the man whom my father called Pap Byers. How did they -happen to be captured?” - -“They were trying to take horses from the Blackfeet, and were -surprised. One was killed, and two were made prisoners.” - -“Was there no other? Did you hear nothing more?” - -“One man escaped, and he had a wonderful escape, if I understood the -account of the Indians.” - -“Who was he?” - -“Really, Miss Robinette, you question me very closely concerning a -person whom I have not seen. From what I have heard of him, it is my -opinion that he was George Benning, one of Mr. Robinette’s partisans.” - -“Thank God!” exclaimed Flora, as her emotions found vent in a flood of -tears. - -“It is plain enough that this young lady loves George Benning,” thought -Wilder. “He is a fine fellow, and I can’t blame her. Here is no chance -for me to fall in love, if I wished to do so, and I don’t. She is very -pretty; in fact, she is beautiful; but it is evident that I must go -further before I find my fate.” - -Flora advanced, and held out her hand. - -“I hope you will pardon me,” she said, “if I have shown distrust of -you. My father always spoke so harshly of men who had joined the -Indians, that I have thought they must be very wicked men. I must trust -you. I have no one else to look to, and God knows that I am grateful -for your offers of assistance. Heaven has raised up a friend to me in -my time of trouble, and I am indeed thankful. Do you think that you can -deliver me from the hands of these savages?” - -“I can try, and I hope you will not accuse me of boasting, when I say -that I generally succeed in what I undertake.” - -“Would they kill me if I should fail to escape?” - -“I think not; but they might do worse. I am told that the head chief -designs taking you into his family.” - -“I have heard that white persons have sometimes been adopted by -Indians.” - -“To speak plainly, he intends to adopt you as his wife.” - -“May God preserve me from such a fate! What shall I do, Mr. Wilder? -Save me, and I will pray for you as long as I live! Tell me what can be -done.” - -“You can do nothing, at present, but return to the village. You must -leave the rest to me, and I do not know what I shall do; but you may be -certain that I will do all that a man can do. Here comes the Indian to -take you back.” - -White Shield approached, and signified to Flora that the interview -had lasted long enough, and that she must return to the village. She -accompanied him, and Wilder, by the direction of his friend, went to -his lodge, where he passed a sleepless night in trying to devise a plan -to release her from her captivity. - -When the day broke, he had hit upon nothing that seemed to promise -success, and he walked out, in the hope that the morning air would give -him inspiration. In the course of his walk, he came to the conclusion -that, if he was to accomplish any thing, it must be with the assistance -of White Shield, and he resolved to throw himself upon the mercy of the -Indian. - -When White Shield entered the lodge that morning, he found Wilder -seated on the ground, with his head buried in his hands, his attitude -and countenance denoting the deepest dejection. - -“I am in great trouble,” he said, in answer to a question from the -Indian. “My heart is very sore.” - -“Let my brother tell me his trouble. Perhaps I can help him.” - -“No one can help me but you. If you do not help me, I can live no -longer. My brother, the daughter of the white-haired chief must not go -into the lodge of Good Ax. I must take her away from him. I must take -her away from the Blackfeet, and restore her to her people.” - -“The Great Spirit has surely deprived my brother of his senses. He -speaks of something that can not be done.” - -“It can be done, and it must be done. It can easily be done with your -help. Will you not help me?” - -White Shield shook his head mournfully. - -“Then I must die. I have pledged my word to the white maiden. I have -never yet broken my word, and, if I fail to keep it now, I can live no -longer.” - -“Let my brother follow me,” said White Shield, as he arose, with -troubled looks, and walked out of the lodge. - -Wilder followed him through the village, and out into the hills that -lay to the westward. The young warrior went on swiftly and in silence, -until he came to the brink of a precipice, that reached down, full -three hundred feet in a perpendicular line, to the plain below. Here he -stopped, and turned to his companion, with outstretched hand pointing -downward. - -“Let my brother ask me to throw myself from this rock,” said he, “and I -will do it. I am ready to die for my brother, when he bids me go to the -spirit-land; but he asks more than death. If I should do what he asks -me to do, I must betray my people, and must leave them forever; for I -should be cast out from among them, and even my father and my brothers -would seek to kill me.” - -Wilder exhausted his arguments upon his friend, telling him that, -if such a step were necessary, he would be no loser by severing his -connection with the tribe, as he would be taken to the village of the -white men, where he would be shown wonders without end, such as he -could never have believed to be possible. The warrior sadly shook his -head, and begged his brother to order him to throw himself from the -cliff. - -“It is enough,” said Wilder, at last. “I can say no more. Here, White -Shield, is my rifle that shoots twice. I give it to you, and I know -that you will use it well. The pipe-holder, too, is yours. None like it -was ever seen among the Blackfeet. Take my powder-horn also, and keep -them all in remembrance of your brother.” - -“What does my brother mean? Why has he given me these things?” - -“I have no more use for them. I am going to the spirit-land. Keep them, -to remind you of Silverspur, whom you forced to die. I must break my -word, and I can live no longer. Farewell!” - -Wilder stepped forward to the edge of the cliff, and threw up his hands. - -With a sharp cry the Indian darted toward him, threw his arms around -him, lifted him up bodily, and carried him back to a distance from the -dangerous spot, where he laid him on the ground. - -“Let my brother live!” said the warrior, as he kneeled by the side of -the white man. “I will do what he asks me to do, though he asks more -than my life. I will leave my people forever, and will follow him where -he chooses to lead me. Is my brother satisfied?” - -Wilder could not help pitying the Indian, whose genuine emotion had -nearly overcome him; but he had gained his point, and he was satisfied. -The two returned to the village, where they shut themselves up in their -lodge, and made their arrangements for carrying away Flora Robinette. - -During the day they selected five fleet horses--two for each of -themselves, and one for the young lady, and concealed them in the grove -where Wilder had his interview with Flora. They also secured sufficient -ammunition, and a good supply of provisions, which they concealed in -the same place. - -After nightfall, when the village was quiet, White Shield set out -alone, directing his friend to go to the grove and wait for him. - -As Wilder passed through the village, he saw a pole in front of the -medicine-lodge, from which were hanging the dried scalps of Mr. -Robinette and Sam Glass. Some strange impulse caused him to take the -gray scalp from the pole, and to thrust it into the bosom of his -hunting-shirt, the general receptacle of trappers for all odds and -ends. He then went to where the horses were concealed and waited for -the companions of his journey. - -In a few moments they appeared, and Flora held out her hand to Wilder, -expressing regret for having distrusted him. He told her that they had -no time for words, that it was useless for her to thank him before he -had accomplished any thing, and that their present duty was to get away -from the Blackfeet as fast as possible. - -They mounted, therefore, and rode swiftly toward the southwest until -they struck the main stream of the Missouri, which they followed in the -direction of the mountains. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. A CROW VICTORY. - - -After the failure of his horse-capturing expedition, the reflections of -George Benning were far from pleasant. He had not only met with poor -success is getting horses, but had lost his three companions. His own -escape had been wonderful, his life having been in the greatest peril, -and he was sure that a horrible death would be the fate of those who -had been taken. His only consolation was in the thought that he had -done all in his power to render the expedition a success, and that it -had not failed through any fault of his own. If he could blame himself -for any thing, it was only for having taken Dennis Regan as one of his -party. - -He found himself alone, and further than ever from the object which -he had undertaken, the rescue of Flora Robinette. He still had his -strength and his weapons, and had a good horse under him; but what -could one man do against a tribe of Indians? He had no thought, -however, of giving up the search; but was determined to persevere, if -it should take a lifetime, until he could recover the lady of his love, -or learn her fate. - -He rode on until he was satisfied that the Indians did not intend to -pursue him any further, when he halted by the side of a wooded stream. -Here he kindled a little fire, cooked and ate his supper, and, after -tethering his horse, wrapped himself in his blanket, and lay down to -sleep. - -It was long before sleep visited his eyelids; but when it did come it -seemed that it would never leave him. He was awoke, at last, by some -strange sounds, which had formed part of his dreams. Starting up, he -perceived that it was broad daylight, and that he was surrounded by a -group of Indians. Many others could be seen in the timber and on the -plain, and a number of horses were feeding along the stream. - -There was no chance to escape, if he had thought it advisable to make -the attempt. A brief glance showed him, however, that these Indians -were Crows, who were generally considered friendly to the white men, -although Pap Byers had been certain that they were Crows who had made -the attack upon Mr. Robinette’s encampment. - -If he had any doubts, they were soon dispelled by one of the chiefs, -who approached him, and greeted him kindly, asking how he happened to -be there alone. - -As it was possible that the opinion of Byers might have been correct, -Wilder thought it best to say nothing concerning the disaster to Mr. -Robinette’s expedition. He stated that he, with three companions, had -been endeavoring to recover some horses that had been taken from them -by the Blackfeet; that they were caught in the attempt, and his friends -had been killed or captured, while he had made a narrow escape from his -pursuers. - -The chief informed him, in return, that they were a war-party, who had -set out for the purpose of taking some horses or scalps, and asked how -far it was to the Blackfoot village. - -Wilder replied that it was distant not more than two hours’ ride, and -pointed out the direction in which he supposed it to lie. At the same -time he proffered his services to the Crows, if they should attack the -Blackfeet, hoping that his friends had been captured, and that he might -be able to rescue them. - -Spies were sent to reconnoiter the village, and the Crows staid where -they were during the remainder of the day. Toward evening the spies -came in, and reported that the village consisted of about two hundred -lodges, but there did not seem to be many warriors in it. - -The Crow chief waited for another band, that was expected the next -day. On their arrival, he divided his warriors into two parties, one -of which was to attack the village from the west, and the other from -the east. Shortly after dark they had reached their stations; but their -approach had been discovered, and the surprise was not as perfect as -they hoped to make it. They charged in, however, and, after a brief -struggle, drove their adversaries from the village. - -Those of the Blackfeet warriors who survived this contest, together -with their women and children, took refuge in a dense thicket, where -they fortified themselves as well as they could, and defended the -position with the obstinacy of despair. - -While the efforts of the Crows were devoted to dislodging their enemies -from this refuge, George Benning hastened through the village in search -of his late companions. - -He soon found Pap Byers and Dennis Regan. They had been left in an open -lodge, guarded by two Indians. When their guards had been killed or -driven away, they came out, and found themselves at liberty. - -Byers was very thankful for his deliverance and expressed gratitude -quite warmly; but the Irishman remained silent. Instead of replying to -the questions that Benning addressed to him, he only shook his head, -and pointed to his tongue. - -“What is the matter with Denny?” asked the partisan, in surprise. - -“The critter has gone dumb,” replied Byers. “When I told him that the -red-skins allowed to burn us, he swore that he wouldn’t speak a word -for six months, if he could git out of the scrape. I thought the durned -fool was jokin’; but it seems he was in ‘arnest, as he has helt out so -fur without speakin’.” - -“If he had made that resolution earlier, it would have been better for -all of us. How did it happen that you were not burned?” - -“The red-skins took us out to roast us. They tied us to stakes and -built a fire around us. It was all up with this child, I allowed, and -the fire was jest beginnin’ to scorch, when a white man stepped in and -scattered the fire, and swore that they shouldn’t burn us while he -lived.” - -“I should think he would not have been likely to live long, after that.” - -“I tell ye, cap’n, he skeered ’em. Some of them red-skins nearly turned -white. Thar was some talk, and then a lot of red-skins j’ined the white -man, and thar was a right smart chance fur a big row; but it quieted -down arter a bit, and then they turned us loose.” - -“It is very strange. It is seldom that a white man gains such -influence among the Blackfeet. Do you know who he was?” - -“They called him Silverspur. He was young, but a right smart chance of -a man.” - -“Silverspur? I have heard of him; in fact, I have seen him. His name is -Wilder, if I remember rightly. He is a brave man, and fine-looking, but -of an unsettled disposition. It would not surprise me if he had joined -the Blackfeet. If he has, they will not keep him long. What has become -of Sam Glass?” - -“He was killed in the scrimmage. The red-skins danced over his scalp -and Mr. Robinette’s the night they took us.” - -“Mr. Robinette’s?” - -“Yes, sir. I was mistooken about its bein’ the Crows who raised the old -man’s ha’r. They were Blackfeet who pounced onto us.” - -“Did they carry away Miss Flora, or was she killed? Have you heard any -thing about her?” - -“She was here; but she’s gone now; and that’s why you had sech an easy -time whippin’ this village of Blackfeet. Ef it hadn’t been fur her, the -job would hev been a leetle tougher, I reckon.” - -“How so? What do you mean?” - -“I heerd the red-skins torkin’ about it. That white man, Silverspur, -kerried her off last night, and one of the red-skins went with him. -Leastways, she was missin’, and so war those two men. Thar was a big -hullabaloo raised this mornin’, as the head chief had sot his eye on -her fur a wife, and they war mad, too, about the red-skin goin’ off -with Silverspur. A right smart chance of warriors mounted and rode off -arter ’em, and that’s how thar warn’t many in the village when you -came.” - -“Was she willing to go with that--with Silverspur?” - -“How do I know? I reckon she was, as she mought easy enough hev staid -here, whar a thousand red-skins wanted to keep her.” - -“Of course. I ought not to have asked such a question. When did the -warriors start?” - -“The sun was nigh an hour high when they got off.” - -“Shouldn’t wonder if the cap’n has gone crazy,” muttered Byers, as -George Benning hastened away, in search of the chief who commanded the -war-party of the Crows. - -He had met him returning from the thicket in which the remaining -Blackfeet had taken refuge. In their efforts to dislodge their enemies -from that position, the Crows had sustained serious loss, and had -concluded that the game was not worth the candle. They had abandoned -the siege, therefore, and were about to collect the horses of the -Blackfeet, preparatory to returning home. - -It was Benning’s belief that the Blackfeet warriors who had gone in -pursuit of Silverspur and his companions would be likely to overtake -the fugitives, in which event they would at once return to their -village. He hoped to be able to induce the Crows to follow their trail, -and meet them as they came back. They would thus easily gain another -victory, which ought to be, as he supposed, a sufficient inducement for -them to do as he wished them to. - -But the Crow, when Benning presented this view of the case to him, -steadily refused to do any thing of the kind. His party had come but -for a special purpose, he said. That purpose had been accomplished, and -it was their duty to return. Besides, several warriors had been lost in -the attack upon the Blackfeet in the thicket, and it was their custom, -when such a misfortune had befallen a war-party, to return immediately -to their village, and to mourn for the fallen before attempting any -other achievement. - -All the arguments that Benning could use were ineffectual to change the -determination of the chief, and he declared his intention of following -the trail alone, in the hope that chance might in some way give him an -opportunity of aiding Flora Robinette. - -From this he was dissuaded by Pap Byers and the chief. The former -represented to him that he would be unable to do any thing alone, and -the latter advised him to accompany the warriors to the Crow village. -He might there represent the case, the chief said, to Bad Eye, the -chief of the village, who would be sure to sympathize with him, and -would probably place a body of warriors under his control, for an -expedition against the Blackfeet. - -These arguments were so strongly advanced, and appeared so reasonable, -that Benning reluctantly consented to accompany the Crow warriors, and -set out with a heavy heart. - -It must be said, although George Benning would not have liked to make -the admission, that he felt very ill at ease concerning the company in -which Flora Robinette had left the Blackfeet. He had hoped to rescue -her himself; but another had been before him, and that other was a -handsome, brave, and impulsive fellow, who might be as energetic and -victorious in love as Benning knew him to be in war. What could be more -likely than that he should fall in love with fair Flora Robinette, and -what better opportunity could a man have for pressing his suit, than -just when he had rescued the lady of his love from captivity among -savages? - -The more Benning thought of this, the more it troubled him. From what -he had seen and heard of Fred Wilder, he had formed a high opinion of -him; but he now began to torture himself with doubts and suspicions, -which were not flattering to the character of Silverspur. If that -person should succeed in getting Flora safely out of the clutches of -the Blackfeet, there was no knowing what mean advantage he might take -of her position and his achievement. Benning had never declared his -love to Flora. He had thought that she had perceived it, and he had -seen indications that led him to hope that his love was returned; but -that was all. It would be only natural, if Wilder should address her, -that she should feel herself bound in honor to listen favorably to -the man who had saved her from a fate that might have been worse than -death. It was highly probable, indeed, that she would consent to marry -him, if she found that no objection could be urged against him. - -These thoughts troubled the young partisan so much, that he had little -rest during his journey with the Crows, and he was glad indeed when -they reached their village. - -When the ceremony of reception was over, and while the whole village -was lamenting for the fallen braves, he sought the head chief, Bad Eye, -to whom he told his story, declaring that he believed Flora Robinette -to be still in the possession of the Blackfeet, and beseeching aid to -deliver her from their hands. - -Bad Eye was a fine-looking Indian, considerably past middle age, -differing somewhat in features from the rest of the Crows, if not -in color. His left eye was sightless, from which peculiarity he had -received his cognomen; but the remaining eye was unusually bright and -keen. - -He listened to Benning’s tale very attentively, and the partisan, -knowing the usually stolid nature of the Indian character, was -surprised at the emotion which he manifested. - -“The white-haired chief, then, is dead,” he said. “Some worse men -have died, and many better men. He was hard in his dealings with the -red-men, but did not treat them as badly as some traders have done. -The Blackfeet must not keep his scalp, to dry in their lodges, if -Bad Eye can take it from them. But his daughter is safe, I think. I -know something of Silverspur, and I know that he always does what he -undertakes to do. I must think of this matter. I can do nothing without -consulting the counselors. When I know what to do, I will tell you.” - -Benning was obliged to be satisfied with this answer, and he waited -impatiently to learn the intentions of the chief. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. THE PASS. - - -Flora Robinette, with her white and red companions, rode rapidly away -from the Blackfeet. It was her wish, as Wilder had ascertained, that -she might be taken direct to her father’s usual trapping rendezvous, -on the head-waters of Green River. In accordance with this wish, they -soon crossed the Missouri, and shaped their course toward the south, -intending to keep near the hills, in order to avoid wandering parties -of Crows or other Indians. - -White Shield, with a gloomy countenance, led the way, seldom speaking -unless he was spoken to. Wilder and Flora followed, with little to say -to each other. - -The Blackfoot came to the conclusion, in the course of the night, that -it would be better to cross the mountains at a pass near the waters -of the Missouri than to remain on the eastern side of the range. The -route, therefore, was again changed toward the west. - -When morning came, they halted to prepare some food. Flora was so -exhausted by loss of sleep, and by the long and rapid ride of the -night, that she needed rest; but she was so fearful and excited that -she was unable to snatch a few moments’ sleep. She sat by the fire, and -conversed with Wilder, while White Shield, moody and meditative, sat -apart, and smoked in silence. - -“I hope you have forgiven me,” she said, “for distrusting you when -you first offered me your assistance. I heard that you had joined the -Blackfeet, and I was afraid of you.” - -“Perhaps you were afraid that I would fall in love with you, and that -I would try to push George Benning from the throne. You need not have -entertained such a fear, as it is not at all likely that I will fall in -love with you.” - -“That is consoling, if not complimentary.” - -“You are beautiful enough, no doubt; but I believe I am proof against -beauty. If you happened to have a sister, and if she happened to be -as beautiful as yourself, and a little older, and not quite so highly -civilized, I might fancy her; but you are not wild enough, Miss -Robinette, for Fred Wilder.” - -“Unfortunately, I have no sister. I hardly know for which I ought to -be the most grateful, for my deliverance from the Indians, or for your -kindness in not falling in love with me.” - -“It must be a satisfaction to know that you have not jumped out of the -frying-pan into the fire. But this is too serious a subject to joke -about, Miss Robinette. You are not safe yet. It is a long journey to -the rendezvous, and God only knows what enemies we may meet before we -reach it. The Blackfeet, too, will be likely to follow us; but I hope -we have too good a start to let them overtake us.” - -“We ought to make sure that we escape, at least. Ought we not to -continue our journey?” - -“I suppose we must, if you really can not rest. My Blackfoot brother -seems to be getting uneasy.” - -In fact, White Shield came up at that moment, and told them that they -must delay no longer, that Good Ax and his warriors would be on their -trail, and that it was necessary to cross the mountains before they -should be overtaken. They mounted, accordingly, and set forward at a -smart pace. - -A few hours’ ride found them fairly within the hills, and they halted -on the summit of the highest they had reached, for a brief rest. - -Their rest was very brief. The Blackfoot, looking back on their trail, -pointed out to Wilder some dark objects that were speeding across -the plain in the distance. It was soon evident that the dark objects -were men on horseback, and that they were following the trail of the -fugitives. - -The white and red friends looked at each other. They knew that those -Indians were Blackfeet who were bent upon their capture, and their -looks denoted a determination to die rather than be taken. - -“What shall we do, White Shield?” asked Wilder. “For my part, the -Blackfeet shall not take me alive. I will fight them to the last.” - -“White Shield will fight with his brother. He can do nothing else. The -Blackfeet hate me worse than they hate you. If we were only men, we -might escape; but we have a woman with us, and she is now very tired.” - -Flora Robinette, who had listened to the conversation, and who had seen -the approaching enemies, begged her friends to make haste to escape -while there was time to do so. She was not tired, she said. She could -ride as fast as they wished to ride, and they need not be afraid that -she would hinder them. - -“There is but one thing to do,” said the Blackfoot. “The pass is a -difficult one, and there is a place at which one man can defend it -against a hundred. We will stop there, my brother, and will fight.” - -“Let us make haste, then, and reach it.” - -The lapse of an hour found them in a narrow defile in the heart of the -mountains. With difficulty they forced their horses up a steep incline, -to the summit of the declivity, beyond which the trail was broad and -easy. The Indian stopped and looked back, pointing down the defile. - -“There are not enough warriors with Good Ax,” said he, “to take this -pass, while it is defended by one brave man.” - -“But they might surround us,” replied Wilder, “or they might starve us -out in time.” - -“I shall not stay here long enough to get hungry; but we will gain -time. I will defend the pass, while my white brother and sister ride on -and get far from their enemies.” - -“You will do no such thing, White Shield. We can not allow you to -sacrifice yourself for us, or to fight the Blackfeet, who are your -brothers.” - -“I am no longer their brother.” - -“But you must not fight them. I will defend the pass, while you ride -forward with Miss Robinette. You need not object, for I am determined -that it shall be so. Is there any way by which the Blackfeet can get -behind me?” - -“There is a way; but it would take them several hours to get behind -you.” - -“Ride on, then, and I will keep them off as long as I can. Don’t be -afraid, Miss Flora. You may safely trust yourself with my brother.” - -The Indian reluctantly consented to this arrangement, and pointed to a -white-topped peak, far to the westward. - -“The trail is plain enough,” said he, “and it leads to that peak. If -you do not find us there, you will find an arrow, to show you which way -we have gone.” - -Flora rode away with the Indian, after a few words of encouragement -from Wilder, who then set himself at work to strengthen his position. - -His first care was to collect a number of bowlders, as large as he -could lift or roll. These he placed at the head of the declivity, -blocking up the defile, until the pile was breast high. - -This done, and the condition of his rifle and ammunition carefully -examined, he sat down to fortify his inner man, while he calmly awaited -the approach of the Blackfeet. - -It was about noon when he heard them coming, and soon he saw them, and -was able to count them, as they entered the defile. They were twenty -in number, including the chief, who was conspicuous in the advance. -All had led horses, so that they could change when the animals they -rode became weary, which accounted for the rapidity with which they had -followed in pursuit. - -On they came, urged forward by the chief, uttering guttural -exclamations as they forced their animals up the incline. - -It must be said, to the credit of Fred Wilder, that he was unwilling to -cause the death of any of the red-men whose hospitality he had lately -shared, unless self-defense should compel him to do so. He hailed them, -therefore, and ordered them to halt. - -A parley ensued between him and Good Ax, by whom he was at once -recognized. The chief demanded that Flora Robinette and White Shield -should be given up, promising the white man that he would be allowed to -go his way. Wilder declared that nothing of the kind should be done, -adding that his red brother and the lady were far beyond pursuit. If -the Blackfeet attempted to force the pass, he said, they would do it at -the peril of their lives. As he did not wish to hurt them, he advised -them to go home. - -Good Ax was so enraged that he ordered an immediate attack. The -Blackfeet led their horses down the slope, to be out of the way, and -rushed up to the assault; but Wilder was ready for them. - -Having arranged his bowlders for immediate use, he sent one of them -whirling down the declivity, and followed it with another. The Indians, -unable to escape the ponderous missiles that came bounding and -thundering among them, screamed and yelled like demons, and all who -were able to do so made a precipitate retreat. - -Wilder took advantage of the pause that ensued, to again advise them -to go home, assuring them that it went quite against his grain to harm -his good friends, the Blackfeet. A volley of execrations was the only -answer he received, and the Indians, unwilling to face the rolling -stones, sought such cover as they could find, hoping to pick him off -with their guns. - -Safe behind his barricade, Wilder watched their proceedings very -composedly, not deigning to reply to their fire unless they showed a -disposition to approach him, when a well-directed shot from his rifle -warned them to keep their distance. - -Affairs continued in this condition for upward of half an hour, and the -young man was beginning to wonder when there would be a change, when he -was startled by a slight noise above him, and a piece of stone fell at -his feet. Knowing that there must be some cause for such an effect, -he looked up, and saw an Indian clinging to the side of the rock, and -another making his way in the same direction. They had gone thus far -unobserved; but the foremost had stepped on a narrow ledge, which had -shaken under his weight, causing him to utter a slight exclamation. - -Seeing the looseness of the ledge, Wilder pried it out from the main -rock with his tomahawk, and it fell with a crash, dropping the Indian -at his feet. It took Wilder but an instant to dispatch this foe with -his tomahawk, and then, seizing his rifle, he shot down the other, who -was still clinging helplessly to the face of the cliff. - -The Blackfeet, who had counted on the attempt of their two braves to -divert the attention of Wilder from their main attack, rushed fiercely -up the defile, but soon found that he was not to be taken unawares. -Rolling over two of his bowlders, he sent them crashing down among his -assailants, sweeping them away at a serious loss of life and limb. - -Then came another season of comparative quiet, which lasted until -Wilder began to suspect that the Indians, or a portion of them, had -gone around by the route which White Shield had spoken of, with the -intention of getting in his rear. Reconnoitering as well as he could, -he came to the conclusion that his suspicions were correct, and that it -would be best for him to make his exit as speedily as possible. - -Collecting more bowlders, he piled them up in front of him, jamming -them in for the purpose of blocking up the defile as well as he could, -and of concealing his movements from the enemy. As he would have -several hours’ start of the Blackfeet who had gone around, he had -nothing to fear but from those who might have been left in front to -watch him. It would probably be some time, he calculated, before the -latter would discover that he had evacuated the position. Then it would -take them half an hour to get up the slope with their horses, and about -as much longer to demolish his barricade. This would give him plenty of -time to get out of the way. - -He quietly led his horses down to the plain and broad trail, where -he mounted and rode off at a gallop. He did not slacken his speed, -except when he stopped to change from one horse to the other, as he was -anxious to reach before night the peak which White Shield had pointed -out to him. It was further off than he had supposed it to be, and it -was dusk when he found himself at its base. - -He was soon convinced that White Shield and Flora were not in the -vicinity, and he found, after a little search, a split stick with an -arrow stuck in it, pointing toward the south. They could not have got -very far ahead of him, he thought, and he hoped that he might be able -to overtake them where they had stopped to rest for the night. - -He rode on; but he soon learned that following their trail was slow -work to a man in the saddle, although the moon was shining. He then -took his course by the stars, and rode south at a gallop, believing -that he could not go far out of the way, and every minute expecting to -overtake his friends. - -He rode until the night was half gone, and the moon was down, without -seeing a sign of a human being. Sure that he must have overtaken them -if he was on the right track, and being greatly fatigued, he deemed it -best to camp where he was for the night, and to hunt for the trail in -the morning. - -He tethered his horses, wrapped himself in his blanket, and laid down -to sleep. Thoughts of his missing friends troubled him for a while; but -they were soon swallowed up in a deep and dreamless slumber. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. MARTIN LAURIE’S LITTLE SCHEME. - - -In the morning Fred Wilder set out to seek for the trail of his -companions; but, after a long and careful search, he was unable to find -it, and he abandoned the quest in despair. As he had seen or heard -nothing of the Blackfeet, he concluded that they had given up the -pursuit, and had returned to their village. - -The disappearance of the Blackfoot and Flora Robinette was not -incomprehensible to him, for it was very likely that he had lost the -trail; but he could not help fearing that it was to be attributed to -some other cause. It was possible that White Shield had been troubled -in conscience concerning the manner in which he had left his tribe, and -that he might have gone back to meet the pursuers, hoping to make peace -with them by delivering Flora to Good Ax. It was possible, also, that -he might have taken a fancy to the fair prize, and that he might have -determined to secure her for himself, thus cheating his white brother, -as well as his tribe. - -Fred Wilder’s manly heart made him reject these unworthy suspicions as -fast as they arose in his mind. He could not believe that the Indian, -who had sworn brotherhood to him, and who had so thoroughly proved -his friendship, would so easily turn traitor. In fact, he felt sure -that he could trust him, whatever appearances might be against him. -The probability was, Wilder thought, that he had lost their trail, -which must lead direct to Mr. Robinette’s rendezvous. Still, it seemed -strange that they had not waited for him, or tried to find him, as he -supposed they might easily have done. - -Stifling his fears as well as he could, he rode toward the south, -shaping his course for the rendezvous, where he hoped to find his -missing companions. - -It was a long journey, and there was not a little peril connected with -it; but, by the use of vigilance and caution, he contrived to keep -clear of any predatory bands of Indians, and the end of two weeks found -him on a stream which he believed to be one of the head branches of -Green River. - -The sun was nearly on the meridian when he was riding along the -pleasant stream, in the shade of the cottonwoods and willows, -meditating on his vagrant life, and wondering whether he would ever -settle down and become a quiet and steady citizen. Thoughts of dinner -were also in his mind, and were further provoked by the sight of a thin -column of blue smoke, curling up above the tree-tops before him. He -stopped at once, with a true woodman’s caution, and speculated upon the -smoke and its cause. - -He thought that he could not be far from the rendezvous, and it was not -likely that there would be any hostile Indians so near a large assembly -of white men. It was more probable that some hunters had chosen the -spot for the purpose of enjoying their noon meal. Wilder was willing -enough to join them; but he thought it best to use caution, as he could -not be certain whether he was to meet friends or enemies. - -He dismounted, tethered his horses, and quietly picked his way through -the undergrowth toward the smoke. He was soon near enough to perceive -two white men seated by the remains of a fire. Near them was the -carcass of an antelope, from which they had made their meal. Both men -were smoking, and a flask that lay between them denoted that they were -not destitute of another creature comfort much prized in the wilderness. - -Wilder was about to step forward and join them, when he was stopped by -an exclamation that one of them made. He heard Flora Robinette’s name, -used in a manner that strongly attracted his attention, and made him -anxious to hear more of the conversation. - -Crawling up closer, and concealing himself behind the trunk of a large -cottonwood, he looked and listened. He knew both of the men, one of -whom was Martin Laurie, Mr. Robinette’s agent, and the other was Jacob -Farnsworth, also one of the trader’s employés. - -“You think, then, that you can find the girl?” asked Farnsworth. - -“I am pretty certain of that,” replied the Scotchman. - -“What will you do with her when you get her?” - -“It seems to me, my friend, that you are becoming inquisitive.” - -“I suppose I am; but it is a matter that concerns me a little.” - -“How so?” - -“Look here, Martin Laurie. You might as well be open and -straight-forward; for I know you as well as you know yourself. You -expect to rescue the girl, and to have the fingering of old Robinette’s -money.” - -“You may think what you please about it. Suppose that what you say were -true, how would it affect you?” - -“More than you may think. I might hinder or help you as I chose. You -don’t want to tell me your plans; but you will have to do it. The -Scotch are very keen; but they are no sharper than the Yankees. I can -tell you that you will never touch the old man’s money-bags, unless -you change your plans.” - -“You are only trying to pump me, Jake Farnsworth.” - -“I am not. I am speaking for your own interest. I know what I am -saying; for I have the will.” - -“The will! What will?” - -“Paul Robinette’s will.” - -“The deuce! I didn’t know that he left a will.” - -“I have one copy, and the other copy is in St. Louis.” - -“What does it say?” - -“Don’t you wish you knew? I will tell you, on condition that you will -give me a third of what you make by the operation. Your plans will -amount to nothing, unless you know what is in the will. You might go to -St. Louis, and examine the other copy; but your chances would be all -gone before you could get back. If you will come to terms I will tell -you what I know, and will help you with your plans. If you won’t, you -may as well load up your traps and quit the ground.” - -“I will agree to what you say, if your information really causes me to -change my plans.” - -“That is fair enough. I will guarantee that it will surprise you.” - -“Very well. Out with it.” - -“The will is a strange one, and perhaps there is a touch of hypo in it; -but I have no doubt that it would stand in the courts. In fact, it was -drawn by a lawyer, who ought to have known his business. It seems that -the old man was quite a monomaniac on the subject of being killed by -Indians. He had a presentiment that he would be scalped by them some -day, and the fear that his scalp would remain in their possession, and -be smoke-dried in their lodges, always preyed upon his mind.” - -“It may have been second-sight, for he was killed and scalped after -escaping for so many years.” - -“I know that; but listen to the arrangement he made by his will. He -divided his property into two equal portions, one of which is to be -given to the man who recovers his scalp from the Indians. The other -half is to be his daughter’s, on condition she marries the man who -recovers his scalp.” - -Fred Wilder uttered an involuntary exclamation, and felt in the -breast-pocket of his hunting-shirt, to see whether the gray scalp was -secure. - -“I thought I heard something,” said Farnsworth, looking around. “It -must have been one of our horses. If she refuses to marry that man, she -will get but the income of her share during life, and at her death it -will go to a charity in St. Louis.” - -“Suppose the scalp should not be recovered.” - -“Then that share is to go to the same charity. You can judge, now, -whether the will changes your plans.” - -“I must confess that it will change them considerably. It will be of -more importance to me to secure the scalp than the girl. It is a queer -will. The old man must have been crazy.” - -“His head was clear enough, as you well know, and we need make no -question about the will. If you can recover the scalp, the girl will be -obliged to marry you, or she will get nothing from the property worth -speaking of. The two halves, put together, would make a right handsome -pile.” - -“They would, indeed, and I could afford to give you a share. I must -secure both the scalp and the girl. I see no objection that Miss Flora -could have to marrying me. I have always been considered a proper man.” - -“Proper enough, no doubt; but young ladies have strange fancies -sometimes. Where do you expect to find her?” - -“Among the Crows.” - -“That is strange.” - -“Rather strange, I admit, but none the less true. Pap Byers, who was -one of the party when we were attacked, picked up a Crow blanket and a -Crow moccasin after the fight, and he was sure that they were Crows who -stampeded us.” - -“But the Crows never molest white people.” - -“Very seldom, it is true; but this may have been a party of young -braves who were returning from an expedition which had not resulted -to suit them, and they may have wanted to carry home a few horses or -scalps, thinking that they would not be found out. War-parties dislike -to return empty-handed.” - -“That is true, and you are probably right in supposing that the -assailants were Crows. If so, they have the scalp and Miss Flora. But -how will you get them?” - -“George Benning wanted to go in search of the young lady, and I let him -take Pap Byers and Sam Glass and a green young Irishman. If they found -her, they were to bring her to the rendezvous; but I have neither seen -nor heard any thing of them.” - -“Perhaps they have been rubbed out.” - -“It is very likely. They were afoot, and their first movement would -have been to steal some horses from the Indians. That might have -brought them into trouble.” - -“If Benning is out of the way, it will be all the better for you, as I -have heard that he was getting fond of Miss Flora, and he is, or was, a -likely young fellow.” - -“It would pain me greatly to hear of his death.” - -“None of your hypocrisy, Martin Laurie. We know each other too well for -that. What do you mean to do now?” - -“I can do nothing until after the next rendezvous, in August. Then I -shall go up among the Crows, and have no doubt that I shall be able -to trade with them for both the girl and the scalp, giving them to -understand that they shall not be troubled about that little affair.” - -“Very well. I will keep your counsel, and will help you all I can. We -had better be getting back to camp, before they send out a party to -search for us. Shall we take the rest of this antelope?” - -“It is not worth while. We will leave that much for the wolves.” - -The two men mounted their horses, and rode down the stream. Fred Wilder -waited until they were out of sight, when he also mounted, and followed -them slowly, reflecting on what he had heard. - -He soon reached the camp, where he saw both Laurie and Farnsworth, -together with a number of trappers and friendly Indians; but he kept -his own counsel, saying nothing of his late adventures, or of Flora -Robinette or the gray scalp. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. A DOG IN THE WAY. - - -It was evident to Wilder, from the first of the conversation that he -listened to, between Laurie and Farnsworth, that White Shield had not -brought Flora Robinette to the rendezvous. He was not really surprised -at this; but his fears were awakened and strengthened, and he could -not avoid an oppressive feeling of anxiety. He made no inquiries about -them, but remained a week at the encampment, hoping that they might -come in. - -At the end of that time, as he had heard nothing of them, he was forced -to the conclusion that his suspicions had been too well founded, and -that White Shield had betrayed him. It was possible that they might -have been captured by some roving band of Indians; but it was not at -all probable that so brave and wily a warrior as the Blackfoot would -have suffered himself to be taken by any enemy. Wilder could only -believe that he had gone back to the Blackfeet, or that he had taken -possession of Flora for purposes of his own. - -Quite despondent, the young man sallied out one morning on a -hunting-excursion. He went alone, hoping to meet with some excitement -that would prevent his mind from brooding over his half-accomplished -achievement. He was by no means prepared to abandon the object with -which he had left the Blackfeet. On the contrary, he was determined -that he would not be so easily outdone, and it was his intention to -seek for the missing companions of his flight, to rescue Flora from the -Indians, and to punish White Shield for his treachery. - -He had poor luck with his hunting that morning, the reason being, -probably, that his mind was too much occupied with other matters. -Somewhat discouraged, he ascended a hill, from which he could have a -good view of the surrounding country, and looked to see whether any -game was visible. - -In the distance he descried a dark object, slowly moving over the -plain. He was sure that it was no four-legged animal, and was soon -convinced that it was a man on foot; but he could not tell whether it -was an Indian or a white man. - -Curious to know who the solitary traveler could be, he descended the -hill, and rode toward the object. The man discovered him, and seemed to -wish to avoid him; but there was no way of escaping on the prairie, and -at last he stopped, waiting the approach of the horseman. - -As he drew near to the stranger, Wilder perceived that he was an -Indian. Nearer yet, he thought that he discovered a resemblance in his -features to those of White Shield. Yes; it must be his red brother; -for the Indian recognizes him, and runs eagerly forward to meet him. -Wilder is surprised; he can not believe that this is the athletic -and fine-looking warrior from whom he lately separated; for the form -of White Shield is fearfully emaciated, his eyes are hollow, he is -entirely without arms, and the few garments that remain to him hang -about him in tatters. - -Instead of advancing to meet him, Wilder reined in his horse, and -leveled his rifle at the Indian. - -“Shall I shoot you now?” he said; “or shall I wait until I hear what -you have to say?” - -The Blackfoot, who did not attempt to conceal his surprise, advanced no -further, but looked steadily at the leveled rifle. - -“If my brother wishes to kill me,” he replied, “let him shoot. White -Shield is ready to go to the spirit-land.” - -“Are you sure that you are ready? Is there nothing you have done that -frightens you?” - -“White Shield is not afraid. His heart is clean, and his tongue is -straight. The path is broad before him. Let my brother shoot.” - -“Why have you betrayed me?” - -“White Shield betrayed his own people, to please his brother. Is it for -that reason that he is called a traitor? Let Silverspur shoot.” - -Wilder could not contain himself any longer. The truth and affection -of the Indian were so manifest, that he felt that he could not blame -himself sufficiently for his suspicions. He leaped from his horse, -threw his rifle upon the ground, ran to the Indian, and fairly hugged -him. - -“The heart of Silverspur was hot,” he said. “A little bird whispered -to me, and told me lies. I have done wrong; but my brother will forgive -me.” - -“The heart of White Shield is warm. What did the little bird say to my -brother?” - -“Where is the white maiden?” - -“With the Indians of the south--with the Arapahoes.” - -“Why is she there?” - -The Indian proceeded to relate his adventures since he had parted from -his friend. - -He had gone to the peak which he had pointed out, and had waited -there a while. Fearing that Silverspur had been killed, and that -the Blackfeet might follow on the trail, he had judged it best--for -the safety of Flora Robinette, which he supposed to be the chief -consideration with his friend--to continue his flight toward the south, -and he left an arrow to indicate that he had gone in that direction. - -When night came on, he encamped, and waited for his friend. There could -be no doubt that Wilder had wandered widely from the trail, as White -Shield, when he considered himself out of danger from the pursuing -Blackfeet, had searched for him in vain. Concluding that Silverspur had -lost his life in the defense of the pass, the Indian had no alternative -but to push on toward the rendezvous, to which his friend had promised -to take the young lady. Flora was greatly grieved at the loss of -her friend and deliverer, but made no other complaints, and went on -bravely, trusting implicitly in her Blackfoot guide. - -It was a long journey, the Indian said, and the young lady could not -travel very rapidly. He guarded her as well as he was able to; but it -was impossible to ride all day and watch all night. One night, when -he had fallen asleep, he awoke to find himself surrounded by Indians. -He discovered them before he was seen by them; but they were in such -numbers that escape was impossible, and he and his charge were captured -by them. - -The captors were Arapahoes, who were on their way home, whither they -carried their prisoners. White Shield was recognized as a Blackfoot -brave who was responsible for the death of many of their warriors, and -he was reserved for the torture. He succeeded in escaping, and set out, -without food or weapons, toward Robinette’s rendezvous, where he hoped -to find Silverspur. He had experienced great sufferings and privations, -and had eaten nothing but roots for three days previous to meeting his -friend. - -Wilder could not control his emotion at this recital. - -“Is it possible,” he exclaimed, “that I was on the point of shooting -you, after you had endured so much for me? You must be starving, and -I have been with you nearly an hour, without offering you a morsel to -eat!” - -He opened his haversack, and spread its contents before his -half-famished friend, who devoured them greedily. He gave the Indian -his pipe to smoke while he rested, and then forced him to mount his -horse, and walked by his side to the rendezvous. - -Wilder persuaded White Shield to remain at the rendezvous until his -strength was recruited, and furnished him, in the mean time, with a -full outfit of clothing, weapons, ammunition and horses. The Indian -appeared to be even more anxious than Wilder to recover Flora Robinette -from the Arapahoes, and they soon set out in search of her, without -informing any one of their purpose. - -The young lady was still among the Arapahoes, and that was all that -White Shield could say upon the subject with certainty. He had not seen -her while he was among them, but did not doubt that she was safe, nor -did he believe that she had suffered any harm. - -Wilder and his friend crossed the mountains at the South Pass, and -struck out in a southerly direction. After passing the Republican -Fork of the Platte, they found themselves in the heart of the country -claimed by the Arapahoes. - -White Shield took his companion in a direct course to the village to -which he had been carried as a prisoner, but discovered, upon his -arrival at the place where it had stood, that it had recently been -removed. Following the lodge-pole trail, which was plain enough, they -found the village in its new location, near the base of the mountains. - -At nightfall the two friends prepared to reconnoiter, for the purpose -of discovering the whereabouts of Flora Robinette. It was arranged that -White Shield should disguise himself and enter the village, where he -should saunter about and mix with the Arapahoes as much as possible, -while Silverspur remained and awaited his return, at the place where -their horses were concealed. - -The Indian threw his blanket over his head, and walked boldly toward -the village, leaving Wilder to wait and watch. The night was dark, -quite favorable to the purposes of the spy, and Wilder had no doubt -that he would soon see him returning in safety, whether he made any -discovery or not. But hours passed away; the night grew darker, -until it was so black that the outlines of the neighboring trees -could scarcely be discerned, and the young man became anxious and -impatient. Notwithstanding White Shield’s experience and reputation -as a woodman and warrior, it was possible that he might have lost his -way in endeavoring to return to his friend, or that he might have been -discovered and captured by the Arapahoes. - -At last Wilder heard a rustling in the timber. He bent forward and -listened, striving to look through the darkness, but not doubting that -it was his friend who was approaching. - -The noise ceased, and again it commenced; but it did not seem to draw -any nearer. It might be some animal scratching among the leaves, or it -might be White Shield feeling his way in the darkness. Wilder thought -it best to try to find out what it really was. - -“Is that you, White Shield?” he asked, in a whisper. - -In reply, he was startled by the growling of an Indian dog, and -the next instant the animal came running up to him, barking most -vociferously. - -“Confound this noisy little pest!” he exclaimed. “I must put a stop to -his racket, or he will bring the red-skins on me.” - -He aimed a blow at the brute with the butt of his rifle, but missed -it, and the dog ran toward the village, and then ran back, barking as -spitefully and as loud as it could. - -Wilder knew well that he would be compelled to change his location; but -he greatly disliked to do so before the return of White Shield, as they -would then be separated, and might not be able to come together again. -He had no doubt that the noise would be heard at the village, and that -the Indians, knowing from the dog’s manner of barking that it had not -started any game, would sally out to see what was the matter. In that -event he would be compelled to fly; but he hoped that White Shield -might arrive before that step should become necessary. - -Soon he heard steps approaching, and an Indian speaking to the dog. - -“It is only one,” thought Wilder, and he decided that he could easily -put that one out of the way, and might then wait a little longer for -his friend. He concealed himself, therefore, behind the trunk of a -large tree, confident that the dog would bring the Indian to him. - -So it happened. The Indian followed the dog to the tree, which he -approached, cautiously at first, and then boldly, having convinced -himself that the dog had only discovered some animal, which had taken -refuge there. As soon as he was near enough, Wilder stepped out, and -struck at him with his knife. - -In the darkness the blow was badly aimed. It made a mortal wound; -but the Arapaho had strength enough before he fell to clinch his -adversary, and to utter a piercing yell. Wilder hastened to give him -his death-blow; but the mischief was done, and the dog ran toward the -village, barking more violently than ever. - -It was time to be gone. With a muttered imprecation on his bad luck -and on the miserable dog, Wilder hastened to his horse, cast loose the -hopple, and sprung upon his back. He was none too soon. Already the -air resounded with the shouts of the Arapahoes, and he could hear them -hastening through the forest toward the point from which the yells had -proceeded. He spurred his horse and rode rapidly away from the voices, -with the villainous dog close at his heels. - -The timber was so close, the darkness was so dense, and the overhanging -boughs were so troublesome, that Wilder did not make such progress as -he wished to make, and he knew that his pursuers were gaining on him. -The dog would keep them on the trail, in spite of the darkness, and it -was evident that they must overtake him, unless fortune should favor -him in some way. - -It was with great joy, therefore, that he emerged from the forest, and -found himself on a level plain, unbroken by tree or shrub. The dog -was still barking at his heels; but he felt that he could now easily -distance his pursuers, and with a shout of triumph, he gave his horse -the spur, and galloped furiously away. - -He had kept up this headlong pace but a few minutes, when his horse -suddenly stopped, with his fore feet planted on the verge of a -precipice, and stood still as a stone, trembling all over with fear. - -Wilder, carried on by the momentum which he had acquired from the rapid -motion of his horse, did not participate in this sudden stoppage, but -was thrown violently forward over the head of the animal. He felt -himself falling swiftly through the air; then his breath left him, and -he knew no more. - - - - -CHAPTER X. CROSS-PURPOSES. - - -George Benning thought himself compelled to remain with the Crows until -he could learn the intentions of Bad Eye, their chief. He was confident -that the Blackfeet warriors would return from their pursuit with Flora -Robinette, if not with Silverspur and his red companion. He must look -for Flora among them, and, as he could not expect to effect any thing -alone, he was obliged to seek the aid of the Crows. - -Bad Eye expressed, and appeared to feel, a great interest in Benning’s -enterprise, but was in no haste to afford him such aid as he desired. -He frequently declared his belief that Silverspur (whose name had -become really hateful to George Benning) would not fail to accomplish -any thing that he undertook, and that the girl was probably safe, -if she had not been carried to her friends. But the scalp of the -white-haired chief, he said, should not dry in the lodges of the -Blackfeet, and sooner or later he would wrest that trophy from them. - -Although this promise had been often made, the chief seemed to be in -no hurry to keep it, and Benning, discouraged and out of patience, -had resolved to leave the village, when Bad Eye at last yielded to his -importunities. A war-party was dispatched to the Blackfoot village, -with orders to attack if a fair opportunity should present itself. One -of the first of the Crow warriors headed the expedition, and Benning -accompanied it as a volunteer. - -The Blackfoot village was found to be deserted, its occupants having -removed further to the north. The Crows followed the trail, and -discovered that the village had been united with another, and that the -combined force was too formidable to justify an attack. After hovering -a few days in the vicinity, during which time they captured some -Blackfeet women, and ran off some horses, the Crows returned to their -own village, to avoid reprisals from their enemies. - -The chief and George Benning questioned the prisoners, and learned from -them that the former had been correct in his surmises concerning the -escape of Silverspur and the safety of Flora Robinette. Their warriors -had returned from the pursuit, the women said, after suffering great -losses. They had followed the fugitives into the mountains, and had -nearly overtaken them, when they were stopped at a narrow pass, which -was obstinately defended by Silverspur. They were at last obliged to -send a party around to turn his position, when he had decamped. They -then followed the trail a considerable distance, but at last gave up -the pursuit in despair, and returned to mourn their losses. As for the -scalp of the white-haired chief, they had danced over it; but it was -not drying in any Blackfoot lodge. It had disappeared; no one knew what -had become of it, and the heart of Good Ax was very hot. - -Thoroughly convinced that Silverspur had accomplished the object upon -which his own heart had been set, and grieved that he had uselessly -spent so much time among the Crows, Benning decided to set out at once -to join Flora. Whatever his feelings toward Wilder might be, he could -not doubt that Flora had requested him to convey her to the place which -her father had appointed as a rendezvous, and that he would faithfully -obey her request. Benning had no fear that his supposed rival would -act toward Flora otherwise than as a gentleman and a true friend; but -therein lay the peril of his own hopes. Wilder was so evidently a -gentleman, and had had such a splendid opportunity to prove himself -a friend! Flora could not fail to be touched by his chivalry and -devotion, and, if he should press his suit, it was not to be supposed -that she could have the heart to refuse him, especially as Benning had -never declared his love. - -In this mood the young partisan had bid farewell to Bad Eye, and was -about to leave the country of the Crows, when there was an arrival -at the village, the new-comers being Mr. Martin Laurie and a band of -trappers. - -Benning was greatly surprised to see the agent at that time and place, -and Laurie was no less surprised at meeting the partisan. - -“I was afraid you were dead,” said the Scotchman. “I heard nothing -of you, and all of us supposed that you had been rubbed out by the -red-skins.” - -“Not yet,” coolly replied Benning, who was suspicious of the Scotchman, -and felt unwilling to give him any information until he could learn -what his intentions were. - -“Have you been able to do any thing for Miss Flora?” - -“Nothing at all.” - -Laurie, to whom Flora had now become a secondary object to the -possession of her father’s scalp, here dropped the subject, which he -found Benning quite willing to avoid. He was shrewd enough to guess -that the young partisan would not be so cool and unexcited about the -matter, unless he knew that Flora was safe. If she was safe, and -Benning was remaining quietly among the Crows, it was reasonable to -suppose that the young lady was not far off. Laurie had as yet heard -nothing to move him from the belief that a party of Crows had made the -night-attack upon Mr Robinette’s encampment, and he was still convinced -that Flora was to be found among them. Benning doubtless knew where she -was; but he was not rich enough to buy her from them, or influential -enough to insure them immunity for the outrage. If the Crows had -Flora, it was probable that they also had the scalp of Paul Robinette. -The way seemed clear to Martin Laurie, who soon left the young man, -and hastened to the lodge of the chief, for the purpose of opening -negotiations. - -George Benning had been led to quite different conclusions, which were -as groundless as those of Laurie. When we reason upon false premises, -the reasoning can not fail to deceive. Convinced that Silverspur -had taken Flora to the rendezvous, he saw, from the light and easy -manner in which Laurie mentioned her, that he knew of her safety and -had seen her. It was evident to him that the shrewd Scotchman wished -him to remain ignorant of her rescue, in order that he might be kept -away from her as long as possible. He could not help smiling at the -shortsightedness of Laurie, in expecting to conceal the truth from him, -when he could so easily learn it from the trappers whom he had brought -from the rendezvous. - -He went among them to satisfy himself, but was doomed to -disappointment. None of the men who came with Laurie had been at the -rendezvous while Silverspur was there, and they knew nothing about him. -Consequently they were unable to understand the hints which Benning -(not wishing to ask openly about Flora) threw out concerning that -person. - -At last he was compelled to ask them openly whether Flora had reached -the rendezvous, and the answers that he received were decidedly in the -negative. None had seen her, none knew any thing about her, and all -were sure that Laurie was as ignorant as themselves. - -Benning could not help believing the statements of the trappers, -except so far as they related to Laurie’s ignorance, on which point he -reserved a doubt. Whatever he might think of Silverspur, he was sure -that he was not a man whom Martin Laurie could buy. It was possible, -however, that the Scotchman might have convinced him of the justness of -his claim upon Flora, and that Silverspur had given her up, in which -case Laurie had concealed her for purposes of his own. Filled with this -thought, the young man hastened to seek Laurie, and met him as he was -coming out of the chief’s lodge, looking crestfallen and indignant. - -As both were angry, they gave utterance to their thoughts with less -coolness than had marked their first interview. - -“I think we had better have an understanding, Mr. Benning,” said Laurie. - -“I have come here for the purpose of having an understanding with you. -I want to know what crooked purpose has brought you to this place.” - -“Don’t be angry, my young friend. It will be to your interest to keep -on the right side of me, and I am sure that you will gain nothing by -flying into a passion. I don’t know why you should impute crooked -purposes to me.” - -“I supposed, from the way you spoke about Miss Robinette, that she was -safe at the rendezvous.” - -“I don’t know how she should have got there. I supposed, from your -manner of speaking, that she was safe here, among the Crows; but the -old chief tells me that she has not been here. He says that none of his -people have ever attacked any party of white men, and that no white -scalps have been brought into the village.” - -“Did he tell you nothing more?” asked Benning, as the Scotchman paused. - -“He said that he had learned that they were Blackfeet who made the -attack upon our camp, and that he had no doubt that Miss Flora had been -carried off by them.” - -“Was that all?” - -“That was all. I am afraid that the old rascal has been lying to me. -Can you tell me whether he spoke the truth?” - -“I suppose he did,” replied Benning, wondering at the reticence of Bad -Eye. “He ought to know whether his own people are clear.” - -“He may know, but may be unwilling to speak the truth. Come, Benning; I -am convinced that you know more about this matter than you are ready to -tell. We are in the same boat, and you will lose nothing by rowing with -me. Do you know any thing about Miss Flora?” - -“First answer me a question or two, and then I will tell you what I -know.” - -“Shoot them out.” - -“Will you promise to answer them truly?” - -“I will, so help me God!” - -“Do you know a man named Fred Wilder, whom the Indians call Silverspur?” - -“Yes.” - -“Has he been at the rendezvous lately?” - -“Yes.” - -“Did he not bring Miss Flora with him?” - -“Miss Flora? No, indeed. Why do you ask such a question?” - -“Did he say nothing about her?” - -“Nothing at all. He remained with us a few days, and then went away -with a stray Indian.” - -“Of what tribe was the Indian?” - -“I think he was a Blackfoot.” - -“It is plain enough now. I feared as much. We have both been cheated, -and Silverspur has carried off the prize.” - -Benning then related his own adventures, and what he knew of those of -Flora, winding up his account by declaring that he had had no doubt -that the young lady had arrived safely at the rendezvous, until Laurie -had convinced him to the contrary. Both agreed in thinking it very -strange that Wilder had not spoken of Flora at the rendezvous, and -could only attribute his silence to the intention of foul play. - -“The old chief told me the truth; then,” remarked Laurie, “and the -Blackfeet were the rascals who stampeded our camp. Do you think it -likely that that young chap, when he stole Miss Flora away from them, -would also have carried off the old man’s scalp?” - -“Of course not. That is a strange question to ask.” - -“To tell you the truth, Benning, I am interested in obtaining that -scalp. If you can manage to get it for me, by trading or in any other -way, I will resign my claim to Flora in your favor.” - -“Of what use can the scalp be to you?” asked Benning, thinking that the -agent had suddenly become very generous. - -“If you had known Paul Robinette as well as I knew him, you would have -known that he had some very queer points. One of his queer points was -the fear that he would be scalped. He could not bear to think that -his scalp should dry in an Indian lodge. He made me promise him most -solemnly that if he should be killed, I would recover his scalp, and he -gave me three thousand dollars as a fund to be applied to that purpose. -I have no need of the money, but I am a man of my word, George Benning, -and I will gladly transfer the amount to you if you will carry out the -wish of my old friend, and will deliver the scalp to me. As for Flora, -I don’t suppose that I am giving you much in that quarter. The desire -of her father would weigh with her, no doubt, and I have told you what -that was; but the young are not likely to mate with the old.” - -“Nor the eagle with the buzzard,” thought Benning; but he did not put -his thought into words. It seemed to him that the Scotchman was rather -too generous, and he was silent, wondering what motive had urged this -strange proposition. - -As he stood there, looking at Laurie, he felt a hand laid on his -shoulder. He turned, and was confronted by the Crow chief. - -“I have heard the talk of my white friends,” he said. “They seem to -think that Silverspur is a bad man; but I know him. The sun may rise -in the west some day. When it does so, I may believe that the ways of -Silverspur are crooked; but not until then. In what direction did he go -after leaving the rendezvous?” - -“I heard that he recrossed the mountains by way of the South Pass,” -replied Laurie. “He was seen traveling toward the south.” - -“To the country of the Cheyennes, or the Arapahoes, or perhaps further. -Wherever he is, he can be found. Bad Eye has said that the scalp of the -white-haired chief shall not remain in a Blackfoot lodge, and the words -of Bad Eye are not wind. Let my young friend stay with me. As for you, -Red Hair, your tongue is not straight, and your talk does not please -me.” - -Martin Laurie, rebuffed by the Crow chief, left the village in high -dudgeon, and George Benning remained, waiting impatiently for the -development of Bad Eye’s intentions. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. DOVE-EYE. - - -Fred Wilder, after his involuntary leap, remained a long time -insensible. When he awoke, he thought that he might as well have -remained insensible. It was so dark that he could not see what sort of -a place he was in. If he had seen, he could have not explored it, as he -soon discovered that he was unable to move. He knew that his left leg -was broken, and he feared that his left arm was as badly injured. He -felt bruised and sore all over; but that was nothing; the wonder was -that he was alive. - -As he could not get away, he tried to resign himself to his situation; -but the more he reflected upon it, the less resigned he became. The -Indians, believing that he had been killed by the fall, would surely -come to seek him as soon as it was light, and it would be impossible -for him to escape. All his peril and suffering would be for nothing, as -he would at last fall into their hands an unresisting victim. - -Hours of darkness must have an end. Light will come, though suffering -does not cease. Daylight came to Fred Wilder; but he could not feel -that he ought to be thankful for it, as it would bring his enemies in -search of him. It enabled him to see the location into which his lot -and his body had fallen. - -On one side was a precipice, so lofty that he shuddered as he thought -of his fearful fall from its brink. Just around him was a green and -grassy spot, upon the soft turf of which he had fallen. The grass -stretched toward the east, until it melted into the prairie. In all -other directions were ragged and rocky hills, beyond which towered -grand mountain ranges. - -It was near the head of a ravine that the young man had fallen. A -crystal spring bubbled up near him, and its plentiful waters formed a -little stream, that ran laughing down the ravine. By the side of the -stream, a few steps from the wounded man, lay the body of the Indian -dog that had been the cause of his trouble. Wilder smiled grimly as he -looked at the dead animal. - -“You are dead, then, you miserable little wretch,” he said. “There must -be what my old tutor used to call a providential dispensation in this. -I, who was the heaviest, have fallen upon a soft spot, and am alive. -You, who were the lightest, and the most likely to survive the fall, -struck your head upon a stone, and dashed out your wretched brains. -It follows, that you were in the wrong, and I was in the right. Your -death is a judgment upon you for having given me an overdose of bark. -Ah, well! I ought not to exult over you, as my fix will be worse than -yours.” - -Having seen all that was within the range of his vision, Wilder had -nothing to do but to make himself as easy as possible, and to wait for -the coming of the Indians. This was unpleasant occupation, and he soon -fretted himself into such a weak and feverish state, that he fainted. - -When he again opened his eyes, a rare vision greeted them. By his side -stood an Indian girl, who seemed to him, at that moment, the most -beautiful creature he had ever seen. - -Her features were perfect, and her complexion was a delicate brunette, -very different from that of any forest maiden he had yet seen. She -had not the high cheek-bones peculiar to the aboriginal race, and her -nose was decidedly of the Grecian order. Her hair, too, though black -as the raven’s wing, was wavy, with a strong inclination to curl. Her -lips were rosy and rich, and there was an evident dimple on her chin; -but her large brown eyes, as they were opened to their widest, with -an expression of amazement and compassion, were to Wilder her most -wonderful feature. - -He ran over these particulars with an artistic eye; but he had only an -instant to observe them, as the girl uttered a little startled scream -when he looked up at her, and turned to fly. - -He called to her, in the Dahcotah dialect, as loudly as his weak state -would permit him to call; but his voice was very feeble. She stopped, -and after a little hesitation, came to him. - -“I am wounded,” he said. “I fell from the top of that cliff last night, -and am badly hurt. I can not move.” - -This appeal was sufficient to excite the sympathy of the girl. Telling -Wilder that she would soon return, she hastened away. - -Within half an hour--though it seemed much longer to Wilder, who was -anxious to see her again, and who feared that the Indians might arrive -before she returned--she came back, accompanied by two men. One of -these was a negro, and the other was an old Indian, whose hair was as -white as snow, and whose face and hands and garments were painted with -strange devices. - -They brought with them a sort of litter, upon which the wounded man was -laid very carefully and tenderly. The negro carrying one end of the -litter, and the old man and the girl the other, they ascended a steep -hill, and, after winding in and out among the rocks, came to a lodge, -made of skins stretched upon poles, at the foot of the cliff. They -entered the lodge, and Wilder saw nothing more. His rough journey had -exhausted him, and he fainted. - -When he again awoke, he found himself in a dark apartment, lying upon a -couch of furs. From what the darkness permitted him to see, he judged -that the apartment was a cavern, or a portion of a cavern; but he was -not able to form any opinion of its shape or size. - -He heard voices near him, which he believed to be those of the old -Indian and the girl; but he could see no one, and he concluded that -they were in another room. They were talking in the Indian tongue, of -which he understood enough to enable him to follow their conversation. - -“It shall be as you say, my child,” said the old man; “but if I do this -thing, you must promise me that you will not leave me while I live.” - -“You know that I have no wish to leave you, my father; but I will -promise; only save the life of this white man. It must be him whom the -warriors were chasing last night, when there was such a noise in the -direction of the village. He was nearly killed by the fall from that -cliff.” - -“I will dress his wounds, and we will take care of him.” - -“But the warriors will seek for him this morning. They will go to the -spot where we found him, to see his body and to take his scalp. Not -finding him there, they will follow our trail, and will come here.” - -“It is true. He must be hid.” - -“But where can he be hid? He is too weak to be moved.” - -“He shall remain where he is, in the sacred room, which the warriors -never enter. I will tell them that the white man was killed by his -fall, and that I buried him. I found a scalp upon him, which I will -give to the warriors, and I will tell them that it is his scalp.” - -The old man drew from the breast of his robe the scalp of Paul -Robinette, and showed it to the girl, who shuddered as she looked at it. - -“But that is a gray scalp,” she said, “and this is a young man.” - -“The warriors had not seen him, José tells me, and they do not know -whether he is young or old.” - -“But this is not a fresh scalp. It is old, and the warriors will know -that they are imposed upon.” - -“I will tell them that I have dried it, and they will believe me.” - -“They always believe you. I now believe that the young man will be -safe. Do you think that he took that scalp--that he killed the man to -whom it belonged?” - -“Why not?” - -“He looks too good to take scalps.” - -“I am afraid that it is because of his looks that Dove-eye wishes to -save his life.” - -“Listen, my father! The warriors are coming!” - -When the question of the gray scalp was brought up, Wilder felt a very -lively interest in the conversation. The possession of that article -seemed to him, at the moment, of more importance than the preservation -of his life. He was about to speak to his red friends and to demand the -restoration of the trophy, when the announcement that the warriors were -coming compelled him to hold his peace. - -The announcement was immediately followed by the arrival of a large -party of Indians, whom he could easily hear as they entered the lodge, -talking volubly in their own tongue. A curtain of skins was let fall -over the opening of the apartment in which he lay, and he was left in -total darkness. - -Darkness was favorable to meditation, and he soon convinced himself -that it was for the best to let the scalp go. If the hair of Paul -Robinette could save his own, that was probably the best use it could -be put to. Besides, if the Indians should discover him, they would -take his own scalp and that of the old trader, and he would be none the -better off for having kept it. - -A great jabbering was kept up in the outer room for a while; but the -warriors seemed to be satisfied, as they soon left, and the man and the -girl came to his couch. - -After a little conversation, in which Wilder informed his friends that -he had overheard their plan for saving his life, and thanked them for -their successful efforts, the old Indian sent away the girl, and called -in the negro. An examination of Wilder’s wounds was then made, and the -old man, to his great astonishment, set the broken limb in very good -style. His leg was properly bandaged, his bruises were attended to, and -he soon felt quite comfortable. His situation was so much better than -it had been at night, when he was lying on the ground alone, in pain, -and in expectation of death at the hands of merciless savages, that -he felt that he could desire nothing more, except the company of the -beautiful Indian girl. - -She soon came, and another came with her. The room was so dark that -Wilder could not see her face or that of her companion; but he was sure -that the latter was a woman. - -“Perhaps he is sleeping, and we had better not disturb him,” said -Dove-eye, as she came in. - -“Oh no! I must see him and speak to him.” - -Surely Wilder knew that voice. There was no mistaking its low, but -clear and melodious tones. - -“Flora! Miss Robinette!” he exclaimed. “Can it be you?” - -“And who are you, sir? Is it Mr. Wilder?” - -“It is what is left of him.” - -“You are badly wounded. Perhaps it was in trying to assist me that you -were injured. Let me have some light, Dove-eye. I must see him.” - -“My sister knows him,” said the Indian girl. “Perhaps she loves him.” - -“He has been very good to me, Dove-eye; but he is no lover of mine.” - -The curtain was removed from the opening, and Wilder was able to -distinguish the faces of his friends, who seated themselves at his -side. Flora Robinette expressed the deepest sympathy when he related -the manner in which he had been injured, and was hardly less anxious -concerning White Shield. In response to his questions, she gave an -account of her adventures since she had parted from him the mountains. -The Arapahoes had brought her to their village, where she had been seen -by Dove-eye, who had taken such a fancy to her, that she had begged the -old medicine-man to bring her to his lodge. As he was easily persuaded -by her, and as his influence was great in the tribe, the request was -granted, and Flora had since been the constant companion of Dove-eye. -A warm affection had sprung up between the two, and Flora, although a -captive, had become somewhat reconciled to her captivity, as she was -happy in the friendship of the Indian girl. - -Wilder, whose thoughts and eyes had been wandering to Dove-eye while -Flora was speaking, thanked her for her kindness, and could not avoid -calling to Flora’s remembrance an expression which he had used in -conversation with her. - -“Do you remember that I said to you, that if you happened to have a -sister, and she happened to be as beautiful as yourself, and a little -older, and not quite so highly civilized, I might fancy her? If -Dove-eye was your sister, my words would now be verified.” - -“But we are sisters; are we not, Dove-eye?” said Flora, taking the hand -of her companion. - -“We are sisters,” replied the Indian girl, looking down and blushing. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. A BLIND TRAIL. - - -White Shield joined the Arapahoes in the chase of Silverspur. - -With the Blackfoot paint washed from his face, and with his blanket -over his head, he had entered the village, and had had no difficulty -in going where he pleased, and making such examinations as he wished -to make. He mingled with the Arapahoes on the street of the village, -entered some of their lodges, and even conversed with them. But he did -not find Flora Robinette, nor did he see or hear any thing to lead him -to suppose that she was still among the Arapahoes. - -Desiring to make his search as thorough as possible, he remained longer -than he had expected to when he parted from Silverspur. The barking of -the dog made him anxious concerning his friend, and presented him at -the same time, as he thought, a good opportunity to get clear of the -village. - -“That is my dog,” he said, as some of the warriors began to show signs -of uneasiness at the continued barking of the animal. “I will go and -see what is the matter with him.” - -This expression, by which the Blackfoot hoped to cover his friend, -nearly brought him into trouble. It so happened that there was only -one dog in the village, and that its owner was standing by when White -Shield spoke. This Indian turned upon him angrily, and he could only -avoid the consequences of his damaging remark by passing it off as -a joke. The owner of the dog went to look for the animal, and White -Shield sidled away from the group of Indians who had begun to suspect -him. - -Shortly there came from the forest a yell, piercing and full of -anguish, that was at once recognized as the death-cry of the man who -had gone to the dog. - -The savages bounded away to avenge the death of their comrade, and -White Shield joined them, hoping to get clear himself, if he could do -nothing to aid his friend. Although several of the warriors were ahead -of him, he soon perceived that Silverspur had mounted his horse, and -was rapidly flying from his pursuers. - -Believing that his friend on horseback could easily distance the -Indians on foot, he thought it best to look to his own safety. - -In their eager pursuit the Arapahoes had passed the place from which -Silverspur had started, and where the horse of the Blackfoot was still -concealed. Profiting by their negligence, White Shield lingered behind -until all had passed him. He then untethered his horse, and quietly led -him away until he was out of hearing of the Arapahoes, when he mounted, -and rode off into the prairie, where he hoped to find his friend. - -When he believed himself to be at a safe distance, he halted and -listened anxiously; but he heard nothing of the wild triumphant yell -that would have announced the death or capture of the fugitive. -Concluding, therefore, that Silverspur had escaped, he rode about -until daylight, expecting to meet him. In this he was disappointed, -as he could not find even a trail. He at last perceived that it would -be necessary to commence the search at the beginning--to start at the -place from which Silverspur had started. - -He concealed his horse, and went to the spot where he had left -Silverspur the night before. It was easy to track the fugitive by the -footprints of his horse, and White Shield followed them through the -forest and over a piece of level ground beyond, until they abruptly -terminated at the edge of a precipice. - -The Blackfoot looked over the precipice, and saw that it was a fearful -leap to the bottom. It was not to be supposed that a man could take -such a leap and live. He was forced to the conclusion that Silverspur -had taken this leap in the dark, and had been killed. - -By a circuitous route White Shield reached the ravine at the foot of -the bluff, and there saw abundant evidence of the truth of his surmise. -There were spots of blood upon the stones, and an indentation of the -turf showed that a heavy body had fallen upon it. There were many -footprints in the vicinity, and a trail led up one of the hills that -surrounded the ravine. The Arapahoes had carried away the body, no -doubt, and their silence the previous night was occasioned by the fact -that they had not then descended into the ravine to search for their -victim. - -White Shield did not follow the trail that led up the hill, as he -supposed that it only went around to the village. It was possible -that his friend might still be living, though terribly mangled. If he -was dead, it would be some satisfaction to recover his scalp from his -enemies. To this purpose White Shield now devoted himself. - -After dark he went to the Arapaho village, and prowled about their -lodges, confident that there would be some sort of a celebration over -their victory, if the death of Silverspur could be so regarded. He was -not mistaken. Bonfires were blazing, and preparations were being made -for a grand jubilee, which soon commenced. - -Near the largest bonfire was a pole, from which a single scalp was -hanging. Around this men and women, mingled together, danced and sung, -and every now and then, at the tap of a drum, one of the warriors would -step forward and recount his exploits. - -White Shield did not long witness this scene from concealment. He felt -sure that Silverspur was dead, and that the Arapahoes were rejoicing -over his scalp. This awakened in him a desire to snatch the trophy -from their possession, and to take vengeance upon them for the death -of his friend. He was just in the mood for such an achievement. He had -deserted his tribe, Silverspur was gone, and there would be no one to -mourn for him if he should fall. In fact, he was desperate, ready at -any moment to sing his death-song and pass to the spirit-land. - -He threw his blanket over his head, and mingled with the Indians of the -village. He was not foolhardy enough to join the dance; but he forced -his way into the circle, and walked up to the pole from which the scalp -was hanging. - -To his great surprise he perceived that the scalp was dry, as if it had -long hung in the smoke of a lodge. The hair, moreover, was thin and -gray, almost white. White Shield had never heard any of those tales of -civilized men whose hair has suddenly turned gray from the effect of -terrible fright or severe suffering. If he had read them, he would not -for a moment have believed that any thing could change the long and -waving masses of Silverspur’s brown hair to those thin gray threads. - -It was not Silverspur’s scalp. His friend was living; or, if he was -dead, the Arapahoes had not been able to outrage his remains. White -Shield was no longer desperate. He had an object to live for, and his -caution returned to him. His entrance into the circle, his examination -of the gray scalp, and the train of thought which followed from that -examination, had occupied only a few moments of time; but he felt that -he was in a dangerous position, from which he would find it difficult -to extricate himself. - -The warriors were already scrutinizing him, with glances full of -suspicion. If he should step out as he had come in, he would be -followed and questioned, and it would soon be discovered that he was a -stranger and an enemy. He might run for his life; but his chances of -escape would be very poor, and, if he should succeed, the Arapahoes -would be put on their guard against his subsequent movements. - -His resolution was as audacious as it was sudden. At the tap of the -drum he threw off his blanket, and stepped forward. - -“Arapahoes!” he exclaimed, “do you remember that, at the last season -of the falling leaf, you lost a tall warrior at the Black Fork of the -Platte? He was very strong, and a great brave. I killed him.” - -“We remember,” responded some of the Arapahoes, looking up at the -speaker in surprise. - -White Shield proceeded to mention other Arapahoes who had fallen by -his hand, and the same response followed each narration. At the fifth, -which filled the number allowed to each relator, a warrior started up. - -“Are you speaking the truth?” he said. “It was White Shield, a great -brave of the Blackfeet, who killed Red Bear.” - -“I am White Shield,” replied the Blackfoot. “I am a warrior, as you -know, and a great brave. I have left the Blackfeet, and they would kill -me if they should see me. I have come to the Arapahoes, who are great -warriors, to make them my brothers, and to fight for them. Do you want -me, Arapahoes? If you do, I will stay with you. If not, I am ready to -sing my death-song and go to the spirit-land.” - -The audacious warrior had not to wait a moment for a response. The -Arapahoes thronged about him tumultuously, embracing him, and covering -him with presents. - -His initiation into the tribe was completed; but it must be confessed -that he did not intend to remain an Arapaho. He had joined them for the -purpose of saving his own scalp and rendering assistance to his friend. -Further than this he did not then look. - -He soon made inquiries concerning the scalp which had been the occasion -of the dance, and was told the story of the chase of an unknown white -man who had been discovered by a dog, and who had been killed by a fall -from a cliff. - -White Shield was puzzled. The Arapahoes described the pursuit of -Silverspur; but the scalp was not his. Who had the old medicine-man -buried, and whose scalp had he given to the warriors? Surely it could -not be Silverspur. White Shield said nothing more concerning the scalp, -but determined to investigate the matter quietly. - -As soon as it was dusk he left the village, and went to the place where -he had concealed his horse. The animal was safe; but the keen eye of -the Blackfoot quickly detected signs of some presence besides his own. -Somebody had been there during his absence, and, unless his penetration -was greatly at fault, somebody was still concealed in the vicinity. - -White Shield applied himself to find out who this somebody was. While -he affected to busy himself about his horse, his bright eyes searched -the forest, and took note of every tree, twig, leaf and blade of -grass within the range of his vision. In the course of this searching -investigation he saw another pair of eyes, twinkling from behind a -leafy hedge of bushes. He was sure that those eyes belonged to a -white man, and the white man could not be Silverspur, who would have -recognized him and spoken to him. Any other white man was his enemy, -and this one had been lying in wait for him. - -The Blackfoot left the horse, and walked toward the thicket in which -he had seen the eyes glisten. He walked slowly, looking about him upon -the ground, as if searching for something he had lost. He passed the -thicket, and then, with the quickness of lightning, turned and threw -himself upon his concealed foe. - -A brief struggle followed, in which both of the combatants came -crashing out of the bushes, and fell upon the ground. But the red-man -had the advantage of surprise--of the first attack--and he kept it. -In a few seconds his enemy was under his knee, and his right hand was -raised, ready to strike with his glittering knife. The white man closed -his eyes, and muttered one word: - -“Flora!” - -The Indian started. His knife was lowered harmlessly, and the grasp -of his left hand was relaxed. “Flora!”--he had heard the name used by -Silverspur, and perhaps this white man might be a friend of her whom -Silverspur called Flora. - -“Who are you?” he asked in plain English. “Who is Flora?” - -A thought occurred to the white man. A hope dawned upon him, and his -eyes brightened as they opened. This red-skin knew the name of Flora; -he was a Blackfoot, as was evident from his paint and his garb; he was -among the Arapahoes. - -“Who are you?” asked the white man. “Are you the Blackfoot who went off -with Silverspur?” - -“I am. Are you a friend to Silverspur?” - -“I am not his enemy. I am George Benning,” replied the white man, who -was not sure in what position he stood toward Silverspur. - -“Let my brother rise. Silverspur is my brother, and his friends are my -friends.” - -The two men, forgetting their late conflict, seated themselves amicably -upon the ground, and conversed about the matters in which both were -deeply interested. White Shield related all he knew of Flora and -Silverspur, and enlightened the mind of Benning on some points that had -been dark to him; but there was nothing to show him that Silverspur had -or had not gained the love of Flora, and on this subject his anxiety -was still intense. - -The question was, what had become of Flora and Silverspur? Believing -that two heads are better than one, and that his own was better than -the Blackfoot’s, Benning proposed to accompany White Shield to the -place at which Fred Wilder was supposed to have been killed by falling -from the cliff. - -They went there, and made a careful examination of the locality; but -Benning was obliged to admit that he was as much in the dark as the -Indian was. It was unreasonable to suppose that a man could have fallen -from such a hight without being killed, and it was equally unreasonable -to suppose that the gray scalp that had been exhibited among the -Arapahoes had belonged to Silverspur. Both agreed that the only chance -of solving the mystery lay in following the trail that led up the hill; -but both agreed that it was useless to undertake the enterprise that -night. - -Benning then informed the Blackfoot that he had come with a band of -Crow warriors, under the leadership of Bad Eye, their chief, who were -ready to aid him in any enterprise against the Arapahoes. They were -encamped at a little distance to the northward, and he had come on in -advance, to spy about the village of the Arapahoes. - -White Shield was not entirely pleased with this communication, although -he showed no signs of displeasure. The Crows were the enemies of his -tribe, and the Arapahoes were now his friends. He was ready to shake -off his allegiance to them if he might thus benefit Silverspur; but -he was not willing to betray them to the Crows. He made no reply -to Benning, except to protest against any hostile act before the -whereabouts of Silverspur could be discovered. - -On this point Benning was uncertain, as he feared that his own plans -and those of the Blackfoot might run counter to each other. He said -that the discovery must soon be made, if at all, as it would be -impossible for the Crows to remain long in the vicinity without a -conflict. - -It was settled that they should commence the search together in the -morning, and White Shield returned to the village, as he could not be -absent from the Arapahoes the first night after his admission to the -tribe. Benning concluded to remain where he was, as he could hide there -as well as elsewhere, and would be at hand to take up the trail in the -morning. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. LIGHT AHEAD. - - -Fred Wilder bore his captivity patiently; but this does not prove that -he possessed the gift of patience in a very remarkable degree. Dove-eye -was with him daily and hourly, and his admiration for the forest maiden -had strengthened into a passion. His heart was enthralled in such a -sweet captivity, that he took no thought of the captivity of his body. - -He had not yet had time or occasion to think how this was to end. He -had given himself no uneasiness concerning the fate of White Shield; -he had not attempted to form a plan for the release of Flora Robinette -and her return to her friends; nor had he even guessed how he should -take Dove-eye away from the Arapahoes, if she should be willing to -leave them. Love, if not really a selfish feeling, is apt to crowd out -other thoughts and feelings. - -It is probable that he would not have related to Flora his adventures -since she left him at the pass in the mountains, if she had not -questioned him upon the subject. When he recounted the conversation -which he had overheard between Martin Laurie and Jake Farnsworth, so -many emotions were excited in Flora’s bosom, that she at last burst -into tears. - -“Why need you be so greatly troubled about it?” asked Wilder, when she -had wiped away her tears. “Those fellows can’t hurt you.” - -“My father’s scalp! To think that it should be made the price of my -hand!” - -“But you are not obliged to give your hand to the man who happens to -recover the scalp.” - -“To think that he should be scalped, after having dreaded it all his -life, and that his scalp should now be drying in some Blackfoot lodge. -It is too horrible!” - -“You are mistaken there. The scalp is not among the Blackfeet. I -brought it with me when we left their village.” - -“_You_ did?” exclaimed Flora, opening her eyes very wide. - -“I did; but it does not follow that I am to marry you,” replied Wilder, -with a smile at Dove-eye. - -“No; for the medicine-man took it from you, and gave it to the Arapaho -warriors.” - -“You guessed right that time. I suppose you had rather George Benning -had taken it from the Blackfeet; but he did not happen to be there, as -I was. Your father’s scalp has saved my scalp, and I am well rewarded -for the freak of stealing the trophy from the Blackfeet--for it was -nothing but a freak, you perceive, as I then knew nothing of the -conditions of your father’s will. As the matter now stands, you have a -much better chance to recover the scalp than either George Benning or -I.” - -“How so? What can I do?” - -“I am disabled, as you see, and it may be many weeks before I am able -to walk. George Benning is searching for you, no doubt, if he is the -man I take him to be; but we don’t know where he is, and it is very -doubtful whether he is on the right trail. You alone are at liberty and -able to act.” - -“What shall I do?” - -“Persuade Dove-eye to get the scalp from the Arapahoes. The warriors -have had their dance over it, no doubt, and it is a small matter to -them now. She might ask for it as a curiosity. If they should not -be willing to give it to her, she could soon find it hanging about -somewhere, unnoticed, and there would be no excitement about it if it -should be missed. I think she would gladly consent to get it for you, -and then the trophy will be with you, to whom it rightfully belongs. -When it is in your possession, I see nothing to hinder you from -bestowing it, and the legacy that accompanies it, where you bestow your -hand.” - -Dove-eye, who had understood a portion of the conversation, answered -the appealing look of her friend with a smile. When Flora had fully -explained the case to her, and had implored her aid in recovering the -scalp, she at once consented, glad of an opportunity to serve her white -sister. - -“But I can do nothing for two or three suns,” she said. “I can not go -to the village now.” - -“Why not?” asked Flora, to whom the scalp had become precious, not only -because it was her father’s, but because her own fate was so nearly -affected by it. - -“Because I have so much to do here, that I can not get away. I must -conceal both of you in some other place, as my father is going to the -spirit-land, and this lodge will be full of warriors.” - -“What do you mean?” asked Wilder. “Is the old medicine-man so near -dead? I had not known that he was sick.” - -“He is not sick. He goes to the spirit-land when he wishes to go, and -the warriors come and look at him while he is dead, and go away. Then -he comes back from the spirit-land, and they visit him again, when he -tells them what he has seen and what will happen to them.” - -“What an imposture! Do you believe that he dies, Dove-eye?” - -“He goes to the spirit-land. The warriors pinch him, and prick him, and -are sure that he is dead.” - -“Very well done for a red-skin! When will he take leave of us?” - -“To-morrow night he will go to the spirit-land, and the next morning -the warriors will come to look at him. After that day I will do what my -sister has asked me to do.” - -“And then, Miss Robinette,” said Wilder, “you will be obliged to marry -yourself, or give up half your fortune.” - -“I wish you would not speak of the matter so lightly,” replied Flora. -“Of what use will it be to me, if I am always to remain here? How can I -ever escape?” - -“That is a question for the future. For my part, I can do nothing until -I am able to walk. I hope that a way will open for all of us.” - -Wilder looked meaningly at the Indian girl, who held down her head, and -turned away. - -The old medicine-man and the negro came in, at the request of Dove-eye, -to remove Wilder to another place of concealment. There was another -small cave, a short distance from that in front of which the lodge was -built, to which the wounded man was carried, with the assistance of the -girls. Dove-eye and Flora arranged a comfortable couch for him, and -the medicine-man hung up before the entrance a dressed buffalo-skin, -painted with strange devices, indicating that the place was sacred. -Flora was told that she also must enter that cave when the warriors -came from the village, and must remain there until the ceremonies were -completed, but would be free, until that time, to go about as she had -usually done. - -The next morning Flora went early to the spring for water. The promise -of Dove-eye, and the confident tone in which Fred Wilder spoke of the -future, had given her hope, and her heart was light and cheerful for -the first time in many weeks. She was singing as she descended the -hill, so gayly that she did not hear her name pronounced in a low -voice, and she started when the voice assumed a louder tone. - -“Who is it?” she asked, as she stopped and looked around, not knowing -whom to expect, unless it might be White Shield. - -“A friend,” was the answer, and a young man in hunter’s costume stepped -out into the path before her. - -Joy and surprise were mingled in the exclamation which she uttered as -she recognized George Benning. Fearing that she was about to faint, the -young partisan stretched out his arms to keep her from falling; but she -quickly recovered herself, and gave him her hand. - -“Where did you come from, Captain Benning?” she asked. “How did you get -here? Is any one with you?” - -“You ask more questions than I can answer at a breath. I have been -searching for you ever since you were lost.” - -“I did not know who it could be, when you spoke, unless it might be -White Shield.” - -“Who is White Shield?” - -“An Indian who helped me to escape from the Blackfoot village.” - -“I have seen him. He will be here presently. I was waiting for him when -you came singing down the hill. Here he is.” - -White Shield rose up, as if from the earth, and presented himself -before the young lady, who welcomed him like an old friend. The -Blackfoot caused his friends to step aside into a sheltered nook, where -mutual explanations were given, Flora declaring that she could only -remain there a few moments, as search would be made for her if she -should not soon return to the lodge. - -“Why should you return?” asked Benning. “I have come to save you, to -take you away. There is a large band of friendly Indians with me, and -you have only to mount my horse and ride a short distance, when you -will be in the camp, safe from the Arapahoes.” - -“Can you also save Mr. Wilder, and take him with you?” - -“You are first to be considered. I can place you in safety, and will -then see what I can do for your _friend_.” - -Benning laid such an emphasis on the word “friend,” that Flora noticed -it. - -“Mr. Wilder saved me from the Blackfeet,” she said. “He came here to -save me from the Arapahoes, and was badly wounded in the attempt, so -that he is unable to move. Do you think I could desert him? There is -another matter to be considered. My father’s scalp is in the Arapaho -village, and it is of the greatest importance to me that it be -recovered from them. If you wish really to serve me, can you not get -possession of that relic?” - -“God knows that I wish to serve you! The Crows are eager to fight, and -will be glad of the opportunity; but there will be a battle, and I -feared that you might be carried away during the struggle.” - -“There need be little or no danger. I have a plan, of which I think -both you and White Shield will approve.” - -Flora then told her companions of the scene that was to be acted next -morning, at the lodge on the cliff. She accurately described the -situation and surroundings of the lodge, showing that there would be -an excellent opportunity to lay an ambuscade, by which the Arapaho -warriors could be attacked and routed as they left the lodge of the -medicine-man. The victory would be an easy one, she thought, as the -Arapahoes, being surprised and mostly unarmed, would be readily -dispersed. Benning and his friends once in possession of the village, -they might recover the gray scalp, and might at their leisure remove -Wilder and herself, with Dove-eye, if she would accompany them. - -Benning had listened with surprise when Flora spoke of her father’s -scalp, and remembered the anxiety which Martin Laurie expressed to -obtain possession of that trophy. He fell in with her views the more -readily, as she had given him some clue to the strange conduct of the -Scotchman. He highly approved of her plan, and thought that there could -be no possible difficulty in carrying it out. - -White Shield also pricked up his ears when the gray scalp was -mentioned. He was rejoiced to hear that Silverspur, although badly -wounded, was alive and likely to live; but he was still puzzled -concerning the scalp. - -“The Arapahoes told me,” said he, “that they were dancing over the -scalp of Silverspur; but I knew they did not speak the truth.” - -Flora was obliged to tell him how her father’s scalp had been brought -from the Blackfoot village, and how it had saved the life of his -friend. White Shield expressed his approval gutturally. If he had been -a Yankee, he would have whistled; as he was an Indian, he grunted most -emphatically. - -It was necessary for Flora to hasten back to the lodge, lest she -should be missed. Assuring her friends that she would pray for their -success, she ran away to tell the news to Fred Wilder. - -White Shield wished to remain in the vicinity of the village, so that -he could be near Silverspur; but Benning persuaded him to accompany him -to the camp of the Crows, so that he might take part in the expected -attack. It was for the benefit of Silverspur, Benning argued, and White -Shield need trouble himself no further about the Arapahoes. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. THE AMBUSCADE. - - -Flora was careful not to go near Dove-eye when she returned to the -lodge on the cliff. She was so much excited at meeting Benning, that -she knew her friend would notice her state of mind and inquire the -cause, and she was by no means sure that it would be good policy to -inform the Indian girl of the plot that had been laid to destroy her -tribe. - -She went, therefore, as quickly as possible, to the cave in which Fred -Wilder was concealed, and astonished that young man by bursting in upon -him suddenly. - -“What is the matter, Miss Robinette?” he asked. “You look as if you had -seen a ghost; but it must have been a pleasant one, to judge from your -countenance.” - -She astonished him again, by running to the entrance, and peering -out carefully, to see if any one was in sight or hearing, before she -composed herself sufficiently to take a seat by his side and answer his -question. - -“I have not seen a ghost,” she replied; “but I have seen a man. White -Shield is alive and safe.” - -“That is nothing very wonderful. I was not afraid that the Arapahoes -would rub out that red-skin, and I expected to hear from him before -long. Is that all?” - -“George Benning is here. I saw him this morning.” - -“Ah! That accounts for the milk in the cocoanut. No wonder you are -excited. What has he been doing this long time? Is he alone?” - -“He has been searching for me, and he has a band of Crow warriors to -back him, and we are all going to be released and carried home, and I -have told him what to do.” - -“You would not be so confident of release, I suppose, unless you had -told him what to do. Pray tell me what instructions you gave him.” - -Flora detailed the plan of the proposed ambuscade and attack upon the -Arapahoes as they returned from their visit to the medicine-lodge. -Wilder listened with a pleased countenance, but became grave at last. - -“Very well planned!” he said. “No one could have hit upon a better -idea. There is only one difficulty.” - -“What is that?” - -“Dove-eye.” - -“I have not told her.” - -“No; and you must not. Of course it would not do to trust her with the -plan of a campaign against her own people. My only fear is that she -will be killed in the melée, or will fly with the rest.” - -Flora’s countenance fell. She had not thought of this. - -“Could I not watch her?” she suggested. - -“No. You must stay here with me; because such are your orders, and -because you must keep out of danger. You would only run the risk of -another captivity. It is very selfish in me, Miss Robinette; but I -almost feel like wishing that this help had not come, and that we were -not to be released. As it is, I am helpless, and must take my chances.” - -“Could I not give her a hint that you wished her to remain?” - -“It would be impossible to do so without disclosing your design, and -you must be very careful of your looks as well as your words, or she -will guess it. Don’t let my selfishness trouble you. You must know that -I did not speak in earnest.” - -Flora left the little cave with a heavy heart. It went hard with her to -give pain to the man who had rescued her from the Blackfeet, and who -had always shown himself so kind and considerate. She had not thought -of the possibility of being separated from Dove-eye, when she and -Wilder should be released, and the thought troubled her when it was -forced upon her. Dove-eye would not then have guessed, from her joyful -and excited manner, that she had received some very good tidings; on -the contrary, she would have been likely to ask what had happened -to make her so sad and woebegone. But the Indian girl was too much -occupied in preparations for the morrow to notice the changes in the -demeanor of her friend. - -The day passed off pretty much as usual, and at night the old -medicine-man went into a trance. That is, he stretched himself out in -state in the principal room of the lodge, and Dove-eye declared that he -had gone to the spirit-land. José was sent to the village to inform the -warriors that they might come and visit him, and Flora, after a tender -leave-taking with Dove-eye, repaired to Wilder’s cave. - -She seated herself by the side of the invalid, and waited anxiously -and impatiently for the issue of her plans. Wilder told her that a -yell would be the signal of the onset, and both listened, eagerly and -painfully, for the savage slogan. - -Wilder said nothing more of his fears concerning the probable loss of -Dove-eye, and Flora did not mention the subject. Both were too much -absorbed in listening for the yell, which she longed but almost dreaded -to hear. When it came, at last, their nerves had been so strained by -their long suspense, that it fell upon them like a thunderbolt. - -The Arapaho warriors had come from the village, in a long and solemn -procession, to look upon their great medicine-man, who, as they firmly -believed, had the power of going to the spirit-land and returning -whenever he chose to do so--in others words, of dying and coming to -life. George Benning and White Shield had stationed the band of Crows -in a ravine near which the procession must pass, and the warriors from -the north gazed from their hiding-place at their enemies, gloating over -the rich prospect of scalps. - -The Arapahoes entered the lodge on the cliff, and looked at the old -medicine-man as he lay stretched out on his couch, with his eyes closed -and his face of a ghastly color, to all appearances dead. As they -defiled past him, they pulled his hair, they pinched him, they pricked -him with their knives; but the figure lay cold and motionless, without -sign of life, and they were satisfied that he was dead. - -When all had seen him, they set out to return to the village, in slow -and solemn procession as they had come, leaving Dove-eye alone with the -old man. As he usually lay in the trance until noon, and there was time -enough, the girl thought that she might as well pay a visit to Flora -and Wilder. - -She took a parting look at the old man, and was about to leave the -lodge when she was startled by a shot from the valley below, followed -by a series of wild and unearthly yells. Then came a volley of musket -and rifle-shots, with screams of pain and rage; and shouts of triumph -and vengeance. - -She knew well what it meant. She knew that the Arapahoes had been -attacked by a hostile tribe, and she stood irresolute, when the -medicine-man, to her great surprise, leaped from his couch, and ran out -at the door to see what was the matter. - -Dove-eye followed him, and as they looked down into the valley, they -stood aghast at the scene which presented itself to their astonished -eyes. The Arapahoes, taken at a disadvantage, and mostly unarmed, had -been seized with a panic that could not be checked. But few remained -to fight, and these were rapidly falling under the weapons of their -adversaries. The rest were flying, helter-skelter, in every direction, -some up into the hills, some toward the village, and some into the -recesses of the ravines, followed by the victorious Crows. - -Among those who scampered up the hills was a tall and stalwart warrior, -with blood streaming from his head and breast. As he came in sight of -the old man and the girl, he warned them to fly, as his pursuers were -close behind, and they turned and ran into the lodge. - -The warrior did not follow them, but ran on until he came to the cave -in which Flora Robinette and Fred Wilder were concealed. He must have -known the place, for he went direct to the entrance, although it was -hidden by bushes. The painted skin made him hesitate a moment; but he -tore it aside and entered the cave. - -Flora and Wilder were not a little startled at the sudden entrance of -this bleeding and panting savage. The girl screamed, and stepped closer -to the invalid, forgetting that he was even more helpless than herself. -The Arapaho was also astonished; but the light of vengeance began to -gleam in his wild eyes; he could at least have the satisfaction of -slaying a pale-face before he died. - -Wilder, who divined his intention, put out his unbandaged arm, as if he -would shield Flora from violence. At the same time he was cool enough -to notice a gray scalp that hung from the Indian’s waist-belt, and he -was sure that he knew that scalp. How he longed, in that brief moment, -to be free and strong again, instead of lying there, unable to move, -compelled to submit to whatever fate the infuriated savage should -choose to visit upon him and the almost equally helpless being at his -side! - -He had little time for reflection. The Arapaho sprung forward and -seized the young lady, whom he dragged from the couch. Pulling back -her head by the hair, he raised his knife, with threatening look and -gesture. Flora sent forth scream upon scream, and Wilder, nearly beside -himself with rage, shouted for help at the top of his voice. - -The Indian’s blow was never struck. A form came bounding into the -little cave; a tomahawk sunk, with a harsh, dull sound, into the skull -of the Arapaho; and Flora was lifted in the arms of George Benning. -Behind the partisan came White Shield, who coolly proceeded to relieve -the fallen warrior of his scalp. - -Flora had fainted, and Benning’s attention could not be withdrawn -from her until she recovered her consciousness. Then he turned to the -invalid, who had spoken to him. - -“You were just in time, Benning,” said Wilder. “I was helpless here, -and the red-skin had it all his own way. You have not only saved the -life of Miss Robinette, but have gained something else. Do you see a -gray scalp in that fellow’s belt? Take it out and keep it as you would -your life, for much depends upon it.” - -Benning obeyed, and looked at Flora as he did so. - -“Is this the scalp you spoke to me about?” he asked. - -“I suppose so,” she replied. “Mr. Wilder knows.” - -“Do you wish me to keep it?” - -“Yes, indeed--that is, it will be safer with you, I think.” - -“Why must it be kept?” - -“My father wished--indeed, I don’t really know, but it must not be -lost.” - -“I will take care of it. And now we must leave this place. The -Arapahoes have been badly whipped, and are scattered over the country; -but they will get together again, and they may give us trouble. You -can’t move, I see, Wilder, but you can be carried, no doubt.” - -Wilder looked at Flora, and muttered the name of Dove-eye. - -“What does he mean?” asked Benning. - -Flora told him, in a few words, about the Indian girl, and explained -the reason of Wilder’s anxiety concerning her. - -“We will go and look for her,” said Benning. “She can’t be far away. -You will be safe with me now, and White Shield can stay and take care -of Silverspur.” - - - - -CHAPTER XV. CONCLUSION. - - -George Benning searched faithfully for Dove-eye. He was so glad to -learn that he had not to fear Wilder as a rival, that he thought he -could not do too much to help that young gentleman to the dusky maiden -upon whom he had really set his heart. - -But all their search was in vain. With Flora to guide him, he ransacked -the empty lodge, and hunted in every nook and crevice among the rocks. -Flora made the hills echo with the name of her friend, and Benning -pressed into the search all the Crows he met, but no trace could be -found of Dove-eye or the old medicine-man. - -Wilder knew, as soon as they entered the cave, that the Indian girl had -not been found. The sorrowful countenance of Flora told him this, and -he felt as one who has sustained a great loss. - -“You need tell me nothing about it,” he said. “I felt sure that it -would be so. She is lost, and here I am, on my back, more helpless than -a child.” - -“You are not helpless while we are here to help you,” replied Benning. -“White Shield and I will do all that any man can do; but we can stay -here no longer. The Crows are anxious to leave, and we will only have -time to make a litter to carry you in.” - -“Never mind me. Leave me here. I am of no use to myself or any one -else, and I may as well die here as elsewhere.” - -“You must go with us,” protested Flora. “Do you suppose I could think -of leaving you here to die--you, who saved me from the Blackfeet, and -who have been so kind to me? You will soon get well if you go with us, -and you would be sure to perish here.” - -“I have no wish to go. I had rather be left here. Dove-eye will return -when you are gone, and I will see her.” - -Flora looked appealingly at White Shield. - -“Silverspur must go,” said the Blackfoot. “The Great Spirit has taken -away his mind. We will carry him.” - -White Shield and Benning went out, and soon constructed a horse-litter, -making a bed by stretching a blanket across the poles and piling furs -upon it. They then procured the assistance of some Crows to help them -lift the invalid. - -Wilder protested against the removal; but he was carried out, in spite -of his protests, and placed in the litter, to which horses were hitched -in front and rear, and the party set out to join the Crows, who were -collecting together on the prairie beyond the mountain. - -Flora wished to be taken to her father’s old rendezvous on Green River, -and Bad Eye was willing that the Crows should escort her to that place -and encamp a while at the rendezvous. Wilder, as he had been brought -against his will, had no choice but to accompany the rest. George -Benning was bound to go where Flora went, and White Shield wished to be -with Silverspur. - -The Crows set off that evening in high glee. They had taken many -scalps, and had captured numbers of horses, and were sure to meet with -a grand reception at home. They were in strong force, too, and had no -reason to fear any reverse on the way. Straggling parties of Arapahoes -hung around them during the first four days, hoping to recover some of -the horses that had been taken from them, but the Crows kept such a -good guard, that they abandoned the attempt. - -The journey was very pleasant to most of the travelers, and quite -safe to all. George Benning had liberty and time enough to make Flora -acquainted with the state of his feelings toward her, and he soon -learned that she was not indifferent to him. In fact, before they had -traveled many days together, he had asked her to allow him to be her -protector through life, and she had granted the request. - -Their happiness did not prevent the lovers from paying proper attention -to Fred Wilder. His wounds were carefully dressed by Benning and the -Crow chief, and Flora neglected no opportunity of providing for his -comfort. White Shield was continually at the side of Silverspur, -and Bad Eye was so evidently absorbed in Flora, that George Benning -declared that he was almost inclined to be jealous of the old chief. - -In due course of time they reached the rendezvous. The Crows encamped -in the valley, and Bad Eye, with the Blackfoot and his white friends, -entered the inclosure that surrounded the post which had been erected -at that place. - -Martin Laurie was greatly surprised at the arrival of Flora, in such -company, and with such an escort; but he was very glad to see her, -or pretended to be, and treated her with the greatest deference. -In accordance with her wishes, he fitted up a room in the fort for -Silverspur, and the wounded man was made as comfortable as possible. -The Scotchman remained very obedient to Flora--servilely so, -indeed--until he perceived her intimacy with Benning, and was informed -of the relations that had been established between them. Then he -thought it was time for him to drop the mask, and his demeanor became -unbearably insolent, as if he desired a rupture with the daughter of -his late employer. Benning wished to chastise him; but was withheld by -Flora, who remembered her father’s respect for the man. - -The rupture soon came, nevertheless. He entered Silverspur’s room, -where the young lady was seated, with Benning and White Shield and the -Crow chief. His behavior was so overbearing, that she was forced to -tell him that she had borne his insolence as long as she could, and -must give him notice that he was no longer wanted there. - -“I don’t know that you have to say any thing about it, Miss,” replied -Laurie. - -“Am I not my father’s daughter?” - -“I suppose you are; but that don’t give you any say-so about his -property. I am in trust here under the directions of Mr. Robinette, -and I may have to continue in trust under the law. It is certain that -you will have no right to the property until you marry, and it is very -doubtful whether you will have any right to interfere with it then.” - -“I propose to marry.” - -“That fellow there? Very well. Under your father’s will, half of his -property will go to the man who recovers his scalp from the Indians, -and you will have to marry that man, whoever he may be, or you will get -nothing but the income of the other half. I am of the opinion that I -will have to remain in charge here, under the law, until we hear from -Paul Robinette’s scalp.” - -“Here it is,” said George Benning, unwrapping a cloth that he had taken -from his breast, and showing the gray scalp. - -Laurie started back in astonishment. He recognized the thin white -hair of his late employer; but by what fatality had it come into the -possession of George Benning? - -“It is an imposition!” he exclaimed. “I don’t believe it. How can you -prove that that thing is genuine?” - -“I can prove it,” said Fred Wilder. - -“I may as well tell you, Mr. Laurie,” said Flora, “that your -conversation with Farnsworth, when he told you the provisions of my -father’s will, was overheard. The revelations that were then made have -placed us in the position we now occupy. I suppose you will no longer -object to my having a voice in the management of my father’s property.” - -“If there should be any objection, I can quiet it,” said Bad Eye, -speaking in very good English. “As the nearest living relative of this -young lady, I am her natural guardian.” - -All looked at the Crow chief in surprise, and Flora begged him to -explain. - -“It would be a long story, if I should tell it all, and I will be -content with a few words. I am William Robinette. I was in business -with my brother, in my younger days; but he always hated me and -persecuted me. After he married, he drove me away, appropriating my -share of the business. I determined to be revenged upon him. When I -left the country, I took with me his first-born child, a daughter, who, -if she were alive, would be nearly two years older than Flora.” - -“Is she dead?” asked Flora. - -“I do not know. I took up my abode among the Indians, and cared for her -tenderly, until she was five years old, when she disappeared, and I was -never able to find the least trace of her. My love for her had become -so strong, that my vengeance was turned against myself. I have risen to -be a chief of the Crows, and am thoroughly an Indian. If Martin Laurie -is inclined to dispute my identity, there are old trappers in the -mountains who can prove that I am William Robinette.” - -The Scotchman, relying on the assistance of the employés of the post, -would have resisted the authority of Flora and her uncle; but Bad Eye -was backed by a strong force of warriors, and he submitted with as good -a grace as he could assume. His submission did not come soon enough to -save his position. Flora Robinette turned over the management of her -business to George Benning, and Laurie and Farnsworth soon left for the -East. - -It was not long before Benning and Flora followed them, with a -sufficient escort of mountain-men, Fred Wilder having become so far -convalescent as to be able to take charge of the business at the -rendezvous. Bad Eye accompanied them some distance on their journey; -but they in vain endeavored to persuade him to return to civilized life. - -“I am no longer a white man,” he said. “I love the Crows, and the -remainder of my life shall be spent among them.” - -At St. Louis the young couple were married, the provisions of Paul -Robinette’s will were fairly complied with, and his gray scalp, -after being subjected to such severe vicissitudes, found a quiet -resting-place in consecrated ground. - -White Shield remained with Silverspur at the rendezvous, feeling that -he had nowhere else to go. - -“I have left the Blackfeet,” he said, “I have betrayed the Arapahoes, -and I have no people.” - -“Am I not your people, my brother?” asked Silverspur. - -The Blackfoot was content to stay with his friend, although he was not -satisfied at the rendezvous. Neither was Silverspur satisfied; for he -could not forget Dove-eye. - -THE END. - - * * * * * - -STANDARD Games and Pastimes for 1870. - -BEADLE’S DIME SERIES. - -HAND-BOOK OF CROQUET. - -A complete guide to the Principles and Practice of the Game. This -popular pastime has, during the few years of its existence, rapidly -outgrown the first vague and imperfect rules and regulations of its -inventor; and, as almost every house at which it is played adopts a -different code of laws, it becomes a difficult matter for a stranger to -assimilate his play to that of other people. 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Ahmo’s Plot. - 57. The Scout. - 58. The Mad Hunter. - 59. Kent, the Ranger. - 60. Jo Daviess’ Client. - 61. Laughing Eyes. - 62. The Unknown. - 63. The Indian Princess. - 64. Rangers of Mohawk. - 65. The Wrecker’s Prize. - 66. The Hunter’s Vow. - 67. Indian Jim. - 68. The Brigantine. - 69. Black Hollow. - 70. The Indian Queen. - 71. The Lost Trail. - 72. The Moose Hunter. - 73. The Silver Bugle. - 74. Cruiser of Chesapeake. - 75. The Hunter’s Escape. - 76. The Scout’s Prize. - 77. Quindaro. - 78. The Rival Scouts. - 79. Schuylkill Rangers. - 80. Eagle Eye. - 81. The Two Hunters. - 82. The Mystic Canoe. - 83. The Golden Harpoon. - 84. The Seminole Chief. - 85. The Fugitives. - 86. Red Plume. - 87. On the Deep. - 88. Captain Molly. - 89. Star Eyes. - 90. Cast Away. - 91. The Lost Cache. - 92. The Twin Scouts. - 93. The Creole Sisters. - 94. The Mad Skipper. - 95. Eph Peters. - 96. Little Moccasin. - 97. The Doomed Hunter. - 98. Ruth Harland. - 99. Overboard. - 100. Karaibo. - 101. Maid of Wyoming. - 102. Hearts Forever. - 103. Big Foot, the Guide. - 104. Guilty or Not Guilty. - 105. The Man in Green. - 106. Simple Phil. - 107. The Peddler Spy. - 108. The Lost Ship. - 109. Kidnapped. - 110. The Hidden Home. - 111. The Shawnee’s Foe. - 112. The Falcon Rover. - 113. Rattlepate. - 114. Ned Starling. - 115. The Sons of Liberty. - 116. Port at Last. - 117. The Mohegan Maiden. - 118. The Water Waif. - 119. The Five Champions. - 120. The Hunchback. - 121. Vailed Benefactress. - 122. Barden, the Ranger. - 123. The Missing Bride. - 124. Sumter’s Scouts. - 125. The Hunted Life. - 126. Old Jupe. - 127. Bald Eagle. - 128. The Gulch Miners. - 129. Blackeyes. - 130. Brave Heart. - 131. Wrecker’s Daughter. - 132. Old Honesty. - 133. Yankee Eph. - 134. Foul-weather Jack. - 135. The Cherokee Chief. - 136. The Indian-Hunters. - 137. The Traitor Spy. - 138. Tim, the Scout. - 139. The Border Foes. - 140. Sheet-Anchor Tom. - 141. The Helpless Hand. - 142. The Sagamore of Saco. - 143. The Swamp Scout. - 144. The Prairie Trappers. - 145. The Mountaineer. - 146. Border Bessie. - 147. Maid of the Mountain. - 148. Outward Bound. - 149. The Hunter’s Pledge. - 150. The Scalp-Hunters.* - 151. The Two Trails. - 152. The Planter Pirate. - 153. Mohawk Nat. - 154. Rob Ruskin. - 155. The White Squaw.* - 156. The Quakeress Spy. - 157. The Indian Avenger. - 158. The Blue Anchor. - 159. Snowbird. - 160. The Swamp Rifles. - 161. The Lake Rangers. - 162. The Border Rivals. - 163. Job Dean, Trapper. - 164. The Giant Chief. - 165. The Unseen Hand. - 166. Red-Skin’s Pledge. - 167. Shadow Jack. - 168. The Silent Hunter.* - 169. The White Canoe. - 170. The Border Avengers. - 171. The Silent Slayer. - 172. Despard, the Spy. - 173. The Red Coyote. - 174. Queen of the Woods. - 175. The Prairie Rifles. - 176. The Trader Spy. - 177. The Pale-face Squaw. - 178. The Prairie Bride. - 179. The White Vulture. - 180. Giant Pete, Patriot. - 181. Old Kyle, the Trailer. - 182. Jabez Hawk. - 183. The Phantom Ship. - 184. The Red Rider. - 185. The Dacotah Scourge. - 186. The Red Scalper. - 187. The Outlaws’ Plot. - 188. The Black Rover. - 189. The Yellow Chief. - 190. Phantom Horseman. - 191. Red Slayer. - 192. The Specter Skipper. - 193. The Swamp Riders. - 194. Graylock, the Guide. - 195. The First Trail. - 196. Eagle Plume. - 197. Shawnee Scout. - 198. Burt Bunker. - 199. Red Outlaw. - 200. Prairie Pathfinder. - 201. White Serpent. - 202. Phantom Foe. - 203. Masked Guide. - -Dime School Series. - - 1. American Speaker. - 2. National Speaker. - 3. Patriotic Speaker. - 4. Comic Speaker. - 5. Elocutionist. - 6. Humorous Speaker. - 7. Standard Speaker. - 8. Stump Speaker. - 9. Juvenile Speaker. - 10. Spread-Eagle Speaker. - 11. Dime Debater. - Dialogues, Nos. 1 to 9. - Melodist. - School Melodist. - -Dime Biographies. - - 1. Garibaldi. - 2. Daniel Boone. - 3. Kit Carson. - 4. Anthony Wayne. - 5. David Crockett. - 6. 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The Gipsy Queen’s Vow. - 4. Unmasked. - -Fifty Cent Books. - - The Figure Eight. - The Dead Letter. - Romance of the Green Seal. - Who Was He? - Our New States, etc. - -* Novels marked with a star are double numbers, 200 pages. Price 20 -cents. - -☞ For sale by all Newsdealers; or sent, post-paid, to any address, on -receipt of price. - -BEADLE AND COMPANY, Publishers, 96 William St., N. Y. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber’s Notes: - -Punctuation has been made consistent. - -Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in -the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors have -been corrected. - -A sequel to this story appears in Edward Willett, _Silverspur; or, the -Mountain Heroine_, Beadle’s Dime Novels, No. 212, Beadle and Company, -New York, 1870. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gray Scalp, by Edward Willett - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRAY SCALP *** - -***** This file should be named 56175-0.txt or 56175-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/6/1/7/56175/ - -Produced by Craig Kirkwood, Demian Katz and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(Northern Illinois University Digital Library at -http://digital.lib.niu.edu/) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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