Christian life -- Fiction; Frontier and pioneer life -- Ohio -- Fiction; Physicians -- Fiction
She rose hastily and disappeared from view within the wigwam.
The action left in Kenneth's mind little room for doubt of her
identity, but alas, of what avail that he had found her, if she could
not be induced to speak of those long past occurrences and to reveal
the secret which, if known to any mortal, was possessed by her alone?
His heart beat almost to suffocation while he forced himself to sit
waiting quietly there at the door of her wigwam in the forlorn hope
that she might return in a truthful and communicative mood.
He was alone, no one near, though at the distance of a few hundred
yards, the young Indians were engaged in active sports and their
shouts and laughter occasionally broke the stillness of the woodland
scene.
He waited what seemed an age to his tortured nerves, perceiving
neither sound nor motion within the tent, then rose and moved slowly
toward the spot where he had left his faithful steed.
He had not quite reached it when a hand was laid lightly upon his
arm, and turning he found a tall young brave standing by his side.
"Does the pale face forget?" he asked in good English, holding out
his hand.
"Have we ever met before?" asked Kenneth, earnestly scanning the
lad's face, while he took the hand in a cordial grasp and shook it
heartily.
"Indians never forget good white men," continued the lad, "white man
find Little Horn in the snow, take him in his arms, carry him to his
fire, wrap him in his blanket, feed him. White man very good. Indian
boy love good white man."
"Oh I remember you now!" cried Kenneth, joyfully, shaking hands
with increased cordiality, while his face lighted up with his rare,
beautiful smile. "I am glad to meet you again. Tell me, can I do
anything more for you?"
"Little Horn's turn now. What would my friend with White Swan, the
warrior Black Eagle's squaw?"
"I wish to talk with her about my mother and father, whom she once
knew," said Kenneth. "But she refuses to listen or to speak."
"Has my friend heap money?"
"I have some. Will money open her lips?"
The Indian gave an expressive grunt, then went on to tell of
Lyttleton's visit to their camp and interview with the woman, of
which he had been an unnoticed witness.
He had not heard or understood all the talk between them, but
enough to enable him to gather by the assistance of their tones
and gestures, the holding up of the purse, and the eager hand
outstretched to receive it, that a bribe had been offered and
accepted, and her conduct of to-day, which also he had closely
watched, had convinced him that her promise had been to maintain
silence toward Kenneth, of whose intended visit Lyttleton must have
known.
Clendenin listened in great surprise. Who could it have been? He did
not know that he had an enemy in the whole world, and this visit was
entirely unexpected even to himself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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