"Red Feather," said Melville, standing close enough to the hapless prisoner to touch him with his hand, "if I help you out of that place and do not hurt you, will you and your warriors go away?" The Sioux nodded so vigorously that he struck his chin against the wood hard enough to cause him some pain. "Me go away--all Sioux go away--neber come here 'gin--don't hurt nuffin--hurry way." "And you will not come back to harm us?" "Neber come back--stay way--love white folks." "I don't believe you will ever love them, and I don't ask you to do so; but you know that my father and mother and I have always treated your people kindly, and they have no reason to hurt us." "Dat so--dat so--Red Feather love fader, love moder, love son, love pappoose of white folks." "You see how easy it would be for me to shoot you where you are now without any risk to myself, but I shall not hurt you. I will help to get your head and shoulders loose; but I am afraid that when you mount your horse again and ride out on the prairie you will forget all you promised me." "Neber, neber, neber!" replied the chieftain, with all the energy at his command. [Illustration: "Oh, Mel!" called Dot "don't hurt him."--Page 30] "You will think that you know enough never to run your head into that window again, and you will want to set fire to the house and tomahawk us." The Sioux looked as if he was deeply pained at this distrust of his honorable intentions, and he seemed at a loss to know what to say to restore himself to the good graces of his youthful master. "You are sure you won't forget your promise, Red Feather?" "Red Feather Sioux chief--he neber tell lie--he speak wid single tongue--he love white folks." "I counted five warriors with you; are they all you have?" "Dey all--hab no more." Melville believed the Indian spoke the truth. "Where are the rest?" "Go down oder side Muddy Riber--won't come here." Melville was inclined to credit this statement also. If Red Feather spoke the truth, the rest of his band, numbering fully a score, were twenty miles distant, and were not likely to appear in that part of the country. Such raids as that on which they were engaged must of necessity be pushed hard and fast. Even if the settlers do not instantly rally, the American cavalry are quite sure to follow them, and the Indians have no time to loiter. The rest of the band, if a score of miles away, were likely to have their hands full without riding thus far out of their course. "Well," said Melville, after a moment's thought, as if still in doubt as to what he ought to do, "I shall not hurt you--more than that, I will help you to free yourself." He leaned his gun against the table near him, and stepped forward and placed his hands on the head and shoulders of the suffering prisoner. "Oogh!" grunted Red Feather; "grow bigger--swell up fast--bimeby Red Feather get so big, he die."