It was now a plain case; somebody had been perpetrating a joke at my expense. But I answered her coolly:
"All right, madam, if you want to see him, I will send him down as soon as I go up."
"I wish you would," she said viciously.
Up I went, and addressing a messmate, named Moore, told him there was a woman at the spring, who wanted to see him immediately.
He took his canteen with him, and started down the path, while I crept to the edge of the bluff to see what transpired. There was the squaw, again concealed behind the tree, watching Moore, who was advancing leisurely without the least suspicion; and when he was conveniently near, she stepped out, and demanded:
"Is your name Pike?"
"No," replied he.
"You lie, you son of a gun; didn't I just send a man after you, to tell you to come down here?"
The next instant she produced a big hickory club from the folds of her skirt, and, swinging it high in the air, was about to bring it heavily down on Moore's head, when he sprang quickly aside, and drew his pistol, and shouted: