Jehiel knew that there was no earthly hope for her in that direction, and he rather congratulated himself on the fact that he was not the only one who would be disappointed.
"Waal, Snowdrop," he said, "this here letter is from Lew Kelly, the feller what you call White Panther—"
"Where is he? What does he say?" eagerly demanded the Indian girl.
"He's all right," replied Jehiel, "and I'll read you what he says," and the scout read:
"Friend Jehiel: I am safe and sound, and with good friends. Tell Gray Eagle that the Pawnees are encamped on the other side of the hill. If he wants to fight them, let him find the pass to the top of the hill, where he can pick them off at his leisure. There is another camp a few miles further west, but I can not tell who they are. As soon as it is dark, do you ride around the hill until you strike the creek. Get into it, and walk up until you come to the falls, where you will find me. We must leave here as soon as possible; there is danger ahead.
Yours,
Lew."
As he concluded reading, the face of the Indian girl grew bright, and she said:
"I am so glad! I shall see the White Panther once more."
"Yaas, I s'pose so," said Jehiel. "But you'll please to obsarve that he didn't ask you to come along."
"No matter, I shall go!" was the positive reply.