"We won't do any such thing. I have been making a treaty of peace with Gray Eagle, and he has promised not to fight the pale-faces any more!"
"Wal, what's an Injun's promise good for?" asked Jehiel.
"You don't know them as well as I do, or you would not ask such a question!"
"No, I s'pose not—nor you don't know 'em as well as you will a year from now. But," he continued, "if we are going, let us be on the move. I will eat as we ride along."
Snowdrop was well pleased when she heard Jehiel speak thus, and smiled as she said:
"The Long Hunter is brave and good to be the brother of White Panther."
"Much obleeged," said Jehiel, "but he ain't my brother, though he is a bully boy, and fit to be the brother of a king."
Lifting the wounded chief to his saddle, they started up the valley, Kelly taking the lead, the chief next, and Snowdrop behind him, while Jehiel brought up the rear; preferring to be where he could admire the lovely form of the Indian girl.
"By Gunner!" he muttered, "but ain't she nice! I'll do something desperate, and marry her or bu'st!"
Truth to tell, Jehiel Filkins was desperately and irrevocably in love, but he was "counting his chickens" too soon.