“Minneoba, by all the devils! Out of my path, girl, or a worse thing may come to you.” But Minneoba did not move, her bright eyes fixed upon the form of the would-be abductor in a way which he did not like. “Sadie is the friend of the Sac girl,” she said, quietly. “You shall not touch her while I live.” “You don’t know what you are doing, mad girl. What will your father say when he knows that you have aimed an arrow at my breast—_mine_, of all white men in the territory!” “It would be better for Black-Hawk if you had never seen him,” replied the girl. “Take your horse and go, for I will spare your life if you do not touch the Wild Rose; touch her, and you are dead.” Black Will was a brave man, but he knew well the deadly skill of the Indian girl, and had seen it proved a hundred times in sportive encounters in the Indian village. Though full of rage, he dared not advance. “But listen to me, Minneoba,” he said. “This girl is to be my wife; I love her, and would take her into my lodge.” “Let me hear her say that she loves _you_, and the Sac girl will not come between you. Stand back, or the arrow flies from the string.” “You shall suffer for this, girl. Black-Hawk shall know how his daughter claims for a friend the daughter of the man who holds his land. We shall see how he likes that.” “Minneoba can talk to Black-Hawk; she does not need the white hunter to tell her what to say.” “She’s a bu’ster, Will,” said Dave Garrett, laughing. “I reckon you had better give it up. Come, little girl, don’t be foolish. Get out of the way, for my sake.” Minneoba did not move, and the arrow was still ready to fly. “Hark, Will! There come horses. Let’s get out of this as quick as we can.” Black Will, shaking his clenched hand at the immovable figure of the Indian girl, sprung into the saddle, and the two men rode away at the top of their speed. They were scarcely out of sight when a party of mounted riflemen came up at a trot, but, seeing the two girls, they halted, and the leader dismounted and came toward them. He was a young, handsome fellow, in a fringed hunting-coat, booted and spurred, and wearing the insignia of Melton’s mounted rifles, to show that he was captain of scouts. He lifted the cap gracefully from his head, and bowed low as he approached. “Captain Melton of the mounted rifles, by way of introduction. May I ask if you have seen any thing of a man known in this region as Dick Garrett?” “He rode away five minutes since in company with William Jackwood.” “The deuce he did! Excuse me, Miss, which way did he go?” Sadie pointed out the road, and with a hasty adieu the young officer bounded into the saddle and the command went off at full speed, with Melton at their head. Sadie had noted that his dark eyes had rested admiringly upon her, and she was herself struck by his noble appearance, and Minneoba laughed softly. She could see that the two had met before. “The young white chief is very brave. Sadie could love him!”