“My sister knows him,” said the Indian girl. “Perhaps she loves him.”
“He has been very good to me, Dove-eye; but he is no lover of mine.”
The curtain was removed from the opening, and Wilder was able to distinguish the faces of his friends, who seated themselves at his side. Flora Robinette expressed the deepest sympathy when he related the manner in which he had been injured, and was hardly less anxious concerning White Shield. In response to his questions, she gave an account of her adventures since she had parted from him the mountains. The Arapahoes had brought her to their village, where she had been seen by Dove-eye, who had taken such a fancy to her, that she had begged the old medicine-man to bring her to his lodge. As he was easily persuaded by her, and as his influence was great in the tribe, the request was granted, and Flora had since been the constant companion of Dove-eye. A warm affection had sprung up between the two, and Flora, although a captive, had become somewhat reconciled to her captivity, as she was happy in the friendship of the Indian girl.
Wilder, whose thoughts and eyes had been wandering to Dove-eye while Flora was speaking, thanked her for her kindness, and could not avoid calling to Flora’s remembrance an expression which he had used in conversation with her.
“Do you remember that I said to you, that if you happened to have a sister, and she happened to be as beautiful as yourself, and a little older, and not quite so highly civilized, I might fancy her? If Dove-eye was your sister, my words would now be verified.”
“But we are sisters; are we not, Dove-eye?” said Flora, taking the hand of her companion.
“We are sisters,” replied the Indian girl, looking down and blushing.
CHAPTER XII.
A BLIND TRAIL.
White Shield joined the Arapahoes in the chase of Silverspur.