“Not by my hand! his blood must not be on my head!”
Dave speedily gained the bank, nothing hurt by his involuntary bath, and they all returned to the camp. Abe charged both Leona and Dave to say nothing of the attack as it would only create useless alarm. The Indian having gained his white steed fled in the darkness.
CHAPTER V. THE CROWS ON THE WAR-TRAIL.
Early on the following morning the emigrants broke camp and started on their march up the Yellowstone trail. Abe and Dave rode on before.
“That was a bold move of the Injun last night,” said Dave.
“Yes,” answered Abe; “I expected that he might be lurking nigh our camp, arter I saw him in the afternoon. That was the reason that, when you and the gal headed for the prairie, I followed. I kinder thought that you would be so took with the gal’s bright eyes that you wouldn’t be able to look out for yourself,” and the old hunter indulged in a dry chuckle.
“I own that it was careless, but I didn’t think that the red devils would ever dare to come so near our camp and the fort.”
“Jus’ so; but this ’ere ‘White Vulture’ has got a white man’s head on his shoulders as to judgment and dash, combined with the deviltry and cunning of the Injun. Why, if it hadn’t been for me, he’d have carried off the gal as sure as my name’s Abe Colt. It was a bold thing an’ it would have been successful if luck hadn’t ’a’ gone ag’in’ him.”
“One thing, Abe, puzzles me,” said Dave.