"Of me?"
"Yes. He once offered me his love and I refused it, and no later than yesterday he accused me of loving you."
"Which you denied, of course," he replied with a smile.
"I neither denied nor admitted. But I fear when he learns the truth, he will seek an opportunity to injure you," and the bare anticipation made her shudder.
"Don't tremble, little one," he answered, glad of an opportunity to again kiss the red lips. "No harm will come of it. He is a coward."
"But if he should. Oh! heaven!" and her beautiful eyes became misty with tears.
"He will not, be assured. Yet I can pardon him for something of his feelings, in being robbed of so great, so lovely a prize. Olive, darling, what would I have done without you?"
"And I without you?" she murmured in response, as she gave and returned his passionate caresses.
"Indians! Indians!"
They sprung apart, and the scout, who had been sleeping, as he was wont to say, 'with one eye open,' was instantly upon his feet and by their side. But "wolf," had been cried so often that he was disposed to doubt its truth, and springing upon a wagon he looked abroad. The prairie lay as dead and silent as when he last looked upon it, and he would have laughed at their fears had not something in the actions of the horses arrested his attention.