CHAPTER IV.
THE YANKEE'S QUEST.
After the Indian girl had departed on her mission, Kelly rode his horse into a thicket of willows beside the stream, and tied him. The scout then ascended the hill and looked in the direction of the late battle-field, but it was not yet light enough for him to discern any thing.
A tall, bushy oak stood near.
"Just the thing," said the scout. "I'll climb this tree, and then perhaps I can see what they are about. They are too quiet to suit my idea, and I shouldn't wonder but they are up to some new deviltry. Of course they have not found Snowdrop, and as that is about all they are after they will not give up the search. Then they'll be tramping around on my trail. But let them come; they will not find the Indian girl, for she is a good piece toward home by this time."
The scout was now among the branches of the trees, from which he could get a good view of the surrounding country, and there, for a short time, we will leave him and take a look at the camp of the victorious Sioux.
Upon the ground sat Gray Eagle, Curtiss, and Jehiel Filkins, while in front of them stood Red Pine, the Sioux chief.
"Ugh!" he said, addressing Gray Eagle, "Red Pine has got you at last; and now as soon as he gets Snowdrop he will start for home!"
"Red Pine will never get her. She is far toward the village of the Blackfeet, with the White Panther, and will bring enough of the warriors of Gray Eagle upon the trail of the cowardly Sioux that will sweep them from the face of the earth!"
"Waugh! Gray Eagle talks brave! He forgets that he is the prisoner of Red Pine."
"No, Gray Eagle does not forget. He is ready to die; he does not care as long as his daughter is safe."
"Before the sun goes down Snowdrop will be a prisoner like her father. Sioux warriors are on her trail, and she rides alone. The pale-face has left her to take care of herself, and she shall yet sit in the lodge of Red Pine!"
"Then let me die!" said Gray Eagle.
"No. The Blackfoot shall go to the village of the Sioux, and when he sees Snowdrop the slave of Red Pine then he shall die by torture!"
Then addressing Captain Curtiss, he said:
"What does the pale-face want here?"
"We were just traveling through the country on our way to Oregon," replied the captain.
"Do you know Gray Eagle, the Blackfoot?"
"No; I never saw him until last night."
"And the pale-face who went with the Blackfoot squaw?"
"I do not know him. I have nothing to do with either."
"Red Pine will keep the pale-face, but he shall die with the Blackfoot dog!"
Then to Jehiel:
"This other pale-face squaw—what right has he here, and what does he want?"
"None of yer business, you darned fool! Now what are you goin' to do about it?"
"Red Pine will make you cry before long!"
"No you won't, you old sucker; you can't do that little thing," replied the scout.
"We will see. When the sun shows its face above the trees, the pale-face shall die by fire."
"The sooner the better, old stoughton bottle. It's a chilly night, and a little fire will do a fellow good."
"Red Pine says you shall die!"
"Yaas, I heerd you, you dirty squaw thief, but you Sioux will lie so that a feller can't depend on what you say. If you should accidentally be telling the truth, it will be better to die than live around where you are!"
"Pale-face talks brave now; we will hear him cry when he eats fire!"
"Oh, shut up, you maw-mouthed imp, and go on with your concert!"
The Sioux chief took Jehiel at his word, and ordered the prisoner to be bound to the stake, and almost before Jehiel knew what he was about, the brush and dry wood were piled nearly to his chin.
When this was accomplished the chief said to him:
"When the sun shows his face above the trees, let the pale-face squaw burn!" and the scout sung:
"Walk along, John, don't stay long,
Hurry right home to your own chickabiddy—"
and calmly awaited the torture.
And that was what Kelly saw from his perch in the tree, upon the opposite bank of the stream.
"That will never do!" he exclaimed; "I must hurry up, or they will roast Jehiel, in spite of fate."
Descending the tree he mounted his horse and started for the scene of torture.
It was well for him, perhaps, that the Sioux were so busy preparing for the torture and therefore did not see him approaching.
He was within a few rods, when a warrior was seen approaching, with a blazing firebrand, and stood awaiting the order of the chief to fire the pile.
Soon the order came, and just as he was about to apply the brand, the report of a rifle was heard, his arm fell at his side, and with a cry of rage and pain he ran beyond the circle of warriors.
The Sioux stood in mute astonishment at the turn of affairs, and at that instant Kelly dashed through the line and to the prisoner, and without dismounting, cut the thongs which bound Jehiel to the stake.
"Jump up here, behind me," he shouted, and before the Sioux had recovered from their surprise, they had reached the bottom of the hill and were dashing at top speed down the valley.
As would naturally be expected, the Sioux started in pursuit, but their ponies were no match for the powerful black of the scout, and they were soon left far behind.
"Gunner! Lew, but you happened around just in time, didn't you? Them yer fellers was goin' to heat up my carkiss!" were the first words spoken.
"How did you fall into their hands?" asked Kelly.
"W'y, you see, when old Gray Eagle found out that his gal wasn't along, he jest turns his hoss's tail like an old fool, and cuts after her! Say, Lew, where is the little angel gone to?"
"Home," replied the scout.
"Hold on a minute!" exclaimed Jehiel; "my horse is in here somewhere. Wait until I find him, then we can go the faster."
Dismounting, he soon found the horse and again they started on down the valley.
"We must go a little slow," said Kelly, "or the Sioux will give up the chase."
"Don't you want them to?" demanded Jehiel, in some surprise.
"No, I don't; at least, not until I get a shot at some of them."
"Cor-reck!" responded Jehiel. "I didn't think of that. Let's find a good place, and stop until they come up."
A few rods ahead they found a pile of rocks, and secreting themselves and their horses behind these, they awaited the approach of the pursuing party.
These soon appeared, tearing down the valley totally unconscious of danger, and when within a few rods of the ambuscade, Kelly whispered to Jehiel:
"You take the leader, and I will take that fellow in the rear; that will stop them. Then, before they get over wondering, we can pick off the rest."
There were but five of the enemy to be seen, and as the two scouts discharged their repeating rifles, the leader and rear man fell.
The other three were too astonished to move, and soon fell victims to the skill of the scouts.
"There!" said Kelly, "I guess there are no more after us, and we might as well go back."
"Go back!" exclaimed Jehiel. "What in the Old Scratch do you want to go back for?"
"To release Gray Eagle, and get the scalp of that dusky nigger, Red Pine!"
"Why, Lew Kelly, are you crazy? If you want scalps there's five of 'em out there; though I can't see what in thunder you want with the dirty things!"
"I believe I told you I had promised Gray Eagle I would get the Sioux chief's scalp for him, and I'm going to do it, or lose my own."
"Cor-reck! You ain't in such a hurry to get home as you was, are you, Lew?"
"Yes, I am just as anxious as ever, but I have pledged my word, and you know I never lie. More than that, I consider that if we can secure the friendship of the Blackfeet at so small a cost, I shall be doing the country a good service. So I shall make a desperate effort to get the scalp of the Sioux chief, and—perhaps lose my own in trying."
"Wal, wherever you go, you can depend on yours truly, Jehiel Filkins!"
"Thank you. But I want you to go the other way," replied the scout.
"Which other way?"
"I want you to find the trail of Snowdrop, and follow it until you find her. I more than half suspect that Red Pine started some of his fellows on her trail when he found she was not with you, and they may have overtaken her."
"Where did you say she had gone?" asked Jehiel.
"Home. I sent her after some Blackfoot warriors, because I thought the Sioux would be after us before we could reach the village of Gray Eagle; and you see I guessed right.
"What made you think so?"
"Because she is what he came for, and he will use every effort to get her."
"Wal, I'll go. But, Lew, I'd jest like to ax you one question. Is Snowdrop in love with you?"
"Yes," replied Kelly, "at least she said she was, and that was the reason she came back after you got started last night."
"Then my bread is all dough," said Jehiel; "but I'll go all the same, seein' as how you asked me to."
"What makes you say your bread is all dough?" asked Kelly.
"Cause you said she was in love with you."
"That does not make any difference," replied the scout. "I am not in love with her, by a long shot, and what is more I am not liable to be, while I have such a good little wife of my own living."
"Does she know you are married?"
"She ought to," replied Kelly, "for I have told her once or twice."
"Wal, I'll go, as I said afore; but, Lew, do you s'pose there is any airthly chance for me?"
"I don't know, I am sure," replied Kelly; "but you can try, and I will do all I can to help you. Remember, faint heart never won fair lady. And now, hurry up and get started, for Snowdrop may even now be in the hands of the Sioux."
"Where'll I find you when I get back?"
"I don't know, Jehiel; I shall stay around here and keep watch for the Sioux, for I am certain they are waiting to get Snowdrop before they go home."
"What makes you so sartin?" asked Jehiel.
"In the first place, this is Blackfoot country, and not Sioux, and we are not more than thirty miles from the village of the Gray Eagle. In the next place, Red Pine would have burned Gray Eagle before this, if he thought he could not get Snowdrop. If I am not here, you will find a letter in this clump of willows that will tell you where I am gone."
"Wal, take good keer of yourself, and I will find the gal if I kin!"
So saying, Jehiel started upon his errand, while the scout prepared to dog the Sioux.