Briefly Ross told of his capture and escape, carefully avoiding
all mention of La Violette and Bradford. General Harrison listened
attentively to the narrative, uttering frequent exclamations of surprise
and incredulity. When the younger man had concluded, the older remarked:
“And your comrades—Farley and the Wyandot—you don’t know their fate?”
“I do not,” Ross answered sadly. “But they are dead, or prisoners among
the Winnebagoes.”
“Too bad—too bad!” the general murmured feelingly. “They were noble
fellows and devoted to you——”
Then with animation:
“But your dog—the bloodhound that was your constant companion?”
“He’s in the village with me.”
While Douglas was speaking, he unconsciously toyed with the ring upon his
finger. At last Harrison fixed his eyes upon the glittering jewel, and
remarked:
“That’s a beautiful and valuable ring you wear, my young friend. May I
ask you to let me see it?”
Silently Douglas drew it off and placed it in his companion’s
outstretched hand. Scarcely had it dropped into Harrison’s palm, ere he
started and cried:
“Douglas, where did you get this?”
Ross was disconcerted. His face flushed as he stammered:
“A—a friend gave it to me, General.”
“And where did your friend get it?” the commander demanded excitedly.
“I—I——” Ross began; but Harrison interrupted.
“There—you needn’t tell me. However, I know the ring. I can’t be
mistaken. Several years ago I saw it upon the finger of Tenskwatawa,
the Shawnee Prophet, when he came to visit me at Vincennes. At that time
I took note of its beauty and value. He told me it was a gift from an
English officer, who had obtained it in the far East, and hinted to me
that it was possessed of some magic power. That stone”—tapping the gem
with his finger,—“is a diamond of the first water. It’s quite large, as
you see, and worth a considerable sum of money. You are fortunate to
possess so valuable and beautiful an ornament.”
With the words, he returned the ring to Douglas. The latter sat looking
at the jewel for some moments. Then raising his eyes to the commander’s
face, he said earnestly:
“General, I haven’t told you all concerning my captivity among the
Prophet’s warriors. Would you like to hear the story in full?”
“If you don’t mind telling me, Douglas—yes,” was the smiling reply.
For an hour they sat in the commander’s quarters—the younger man calmly
talking, the older gravely listening. At last Douglas finished and arose
to go.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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