"Let the great chief of the Sioux go with Snowdrop to the other side of the stream, where she can talk to him without his warriors hearing. Snowdrop had words that the chief alone must hear."
Red Pine was flattered and readily consented to the arrangement. He hoped that the Blackfoot maiden had changed her mind, and was about to comply with his wishes.
When they were standing upon the opposite side the girl said:
"Snowdrop can not see her people starve to death! Will not the great chief of the Sioux let them come down?"
"If the Blackfoot Queen will go with Red Pine, and be his squaw, then her father and his people may come down. Red Pine will divide his meat with them, and the two tribes shall be at peace forever!"
"Snowdrop will go with the chief of the Sioux, and will be his wife—if there is no other way to save her father's life."
"There is no other way! The Blackfoot Queen has made Red Pine happy! He will now take his warriors away from the pass, and Gray Eagle may come down."
Snowdrop did not know what to say. She was not quite sure that the scout was there, or feared that he had been there and left again because she was too late.
She did not see the tall form of the scout rise from the rock, not a dozen feet above where she stood; she did not see the coil of rope shoot out and descend square over the head of the chief.
But she did see the noose slip down over his arms and tighten.