Chiquita, an American Novel: The Romance of a Ute Chief's DaughterTileston, Merrill
General
Chiquita, an American Novel: The Romance of a Ute Chief's Daughter
Tileston, Merrill
Indian women -- Fiction; Ute Indians -- Fiction
In this logic of plenty to eat lay the safety of the white trappers for
that winter, so Jack prayed fervently for the early departure of the
Indians for Sulphur Springs to the end of his own personal safety. He
knew now that certain sign language the Utes had so often indulged in
represented Agent Meeker in his attempts to teach the Indians how to
plow; that bits of tragic, practical joking were tests of his own
bravery, and that the uneasy red devils but waited opportunity and
excuse for an uprising, after they should obtain the necessary munitions
of war, of which they had none.
Chiquita grew more and more interested in the ways of the pale face with
each visit, and Jack found her waiting for his return oftener, even
following him portions of the route in his attentions to the traps. Her
desire for knowledge seemed to him incomprehensible and old Yamanatz was
equally at a loss to understand why his daughter should prefer to hear
about her white sisters' habits and what they did, rather than matters
of more moment. When she finally told Yamanatz her desire to do
wonderful things, such as building a big "medicine tepee" with lots of
Indian maidens in "medicine clothes" to care for the sick, the aged and
infirm, the old chief's face gladdened and his actions spoke louder than
words, so that Jack knew it was safe to humor them both in their dream.
Within a few days Yamanatz sprung a joke on Jack that left Bennett's fun
hanging high and dry on the trees. Chiquita had arrayed herself in more
gorgeous raiment than had been recorded of a society debutante in Indian
stories--beaded cape, waist, shirt, leggings, and moccasins; medals of
gold, silver and pewter; ornaments of brass, tin and iron; necklaces of
elk teeth and grizzly claws; hair decorations of lion skin, beaver and
otter fur, and in her hand a rawhide shield just dazzling with highly
polished brass knobs. Her bright eyes fairly danced with joy as she
posed before Jack in her "Sunday best." Yamanatz watched her with that
same benevolent kindness which characterized him above other Utes. After
the usual salutations, the old chief took a leather bag from the saddle
and opened it, turning its contents upon Jack's best dish towel, which
happened to be near. To say that Jack's heart jumped is drawing it very
mild. The contents of the bag were gold nuggets from the size of a
mustard seed to a navy bean and there was at least a quart.
Yamanatz saw the sparkle in Jack's eyes and laconically remarked,
"Sabe?"
"Heap big gold mine somewhere?" asked Jack,
To which question Yamanatz made two replies--"Me dunno; mebbe so."
Jack waited for him to continue, wondering what reason the two Utes had
for appearing as they did, one in royal raiment, the other with a good
sized ransom, for Jack estimated that there was twenty pounds of pure
gold worth twenty dollars an ounce, or in all nearly five thousand
dollars.
"Does the white man sabe?" again inquired Yamanatz.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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