“Any thing she has,” she replied. “If Rushing Water has not a heart of stone, let no harm be done to any.”
“The will of the white maiden is law to Rushing Water. The lives of her kindred shall be spared as she asks. But let her remember the promise she has made. The chief will claim it soon.”
He spoke a word of command, and coming at that moment it saved the life of at least one of them. An instant later, and the Yankee would have had no further use for his pack in this world. An arm was even at that moment raised to take his life.
“Do not save me by any such promise as you have made,” cried her father. “Think what it is that the chief will require of you. There is but one thing he desires, and that is to take you to his lodge. Let us rather die where we are, than this fate should be yours.”
Ruth felt her heart sink like lead in her bosom. But her promise had been given and she would not revoke it. Of what use would it be for her to do so. She was completely in his power, and he would do with her as he chose, even though she stood out against him. Now she had his promise that the lives of her friends should be spared, and that was more than she had hoped for.
At this moment there was the report of another rifle, and a bullet whistled above their heads.
Our friends knew well it came from Ned’s rifle, and that he was rushing upon his own destruction.
But there was no help for it. Even before they had a chance to think, he had dashed wildly in among them, dealing blows right and left with the breech of his rifle.
But his career was of short duration. Valiant as he was, he could not successfully contend against such fearful odds, and in less time than it takes to tell it, he was thrown to the earth, where his limbs were secured in such a manner that he was entirely powerless.
His life would have been taken in an instant, had it not been for the promise the chief had given to Ruth, and who eagerly reminded him of it when she saw the fearful danger her lover was in.