And now the smile broke forth into musical, heartfelt laughter.
“Does love put such funny dreams as that into your head? How could such a thing as that be? I am a child, and he a man well on in years. He often looks at me, and says something about my growing so fast, and says, too, that it only seems a year ago that he found me in the lodge of the Indian chief, and he declares that he shall always look upon me as that same little child. He loves me, indeed, as your father loves you.”
“I’ve no objection to that,” replied Harry, with a prodigious sigh of relief, “so it don’t grow on him too fast. But what I want to ask, Little Rifle, is whether you are willing to give me a promise?”
“Yes; I will promise any thing I can,” she answered.
“If ever, in the future, you are ready to love any one, will you remember me?”
“I am sure I can make that pledge,” she answered, with a glowing smile. “In the whole broad world there can never be any one who can take a place before you in my affections.”
“That is all I can ask,” exclaimed the delighted Harry kissing her warm cheek again and again. “I look upon you now as promised to me; that sweet thought shall ever be within me—it shall cheer me onward, and after my probation is ended, after you have learned more of the world than you now know, you shall see how great was my love for you. Bless you, my dearest Bride of the Wilderness!”
They had spent a much longer time than they supposed, in the natural excitement and agitation resulting from the discovery, and they had proceeded but a short distance on their journey when both saw that it would be impossible for them to reach the fort until late at night; so they pressed forward now, as if to make up for the sweet moments lost.
Pressing on, night overtook them, and yet the fort was far away; so nothing remained but to choose a cosy spot and to go into camp for the night. This course Little Rifle advised as the gathering dusk rendered all the wood-paths obscure, and she began at once to look out for a safe retreat, not among the rocks and woods around, but down in a ravine, into which the girl-guide, to Harry’s surprise, now worked her way.
“Here we shall find wood and every thing in readiness,” she said in explanation; “for Uncle Ruff and I have made our camp here two or three times, during the past few months.”