Undoubtedly these two gentlemen were concerned in the theft of Leonidas Swipe’s sheep; and, fully impressed with the value of their prize, they were resorting to every means to delay pursuit. They had known or suspected of the union of the unfortunate sheep dealers, with emigrants, and fearful that they might thus organize a vigorous and dangerous campaign against them, they had adopted this artifice of keeping them and their friends off the scent, until the plunder was beyond their reach.
Five thousand and odd sheep are not a very mobile organization in a precipitous country; and if any one thinks they are, we advise him to try the experiment and undeceive himself.
Consequently the Comanches only displayed ordinary sagacity in attempting the stratagem to which we have referred.
“All well, if it’s no more,” was the reflection of the trapper, as these thoughts passed through his mind, “but these dusky scamps may have something behind all this.”
As the interview progressed, the emigrants gradually gathered around the parties. The curiosity, naturally enough affected the women; and, when they saw the Indians, in their war-paint and war-dress seated upon the ground, gravely chaffering with the whites, they too approached until they were within a few feet of the parties.
As Fred Wainwright sat looking upon the face of the Apache chief, during the interview, he noticed that he kept gazing to his left as though something in that direction attracted his attention. His looks became so fixed at last, that he turned his head, and then discovered that the all absorbing object which had caught the dusky scamp’s eye was no less a personage than Miss Florence Brandon, who, occupied in the scene itself was unconscious of the attention which she had attracted.
“By jingo! he’s smitten!” whispered Swipes to the young hunter.
“The old dog is struck with her,” was the reply, “and if we aint careful, there’ll trouble come from this. Just watch him!”
“I never shall give my consent to his taking Miss Brandon away; you see it would be a severe loss for the Fort Mifflin Institute.”
“Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open,” was the somewhat strong hint that Mr. Swipes received to remain quiet during the progress of the interview. He looked at the young hunter a moment as if he were about to resent this insult to his dignity; but he finally concluded to remain silent and look on.