“It is well,” said Ku-nan-gu-no-nah, as he went away.
“The great medicine-woman will save the Forest Rose, and again she will sing like the birds in the trees to gladden the heart of her father, the great chief.”
Wild Buffalo, the aged sachem, called a council of braves early in the morning, and at midday, the subtle Ku-nan-gu-no-nah, at the head of a dozen picked warriors, was riding over the prairie in quest of “Sun-Hair,” the beautiful magician.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE FACE AT THE WINDOW.
“So the mystery of the disappearing horseman is explained very satisfactorily at last, Vinnie,” said Darke, after their surprise had subsided somewhat.
“Yes,” she replied, “all but the mystery of his disappearance.”
“True,” said her father; “we are still in the dark concerning that. How could it have been accomplished?”
“I know not. It vanished before my very eyes!”
“It was doubtless owing to some peculiar turn of the path he was following, or something of that sort,” reasoned the woodman. “A very sudden turn among the dense growth of shrubbery that is so thick about the place might have concealed the white horse and his rider from view almost instantly.”
“I think very likely it was owing to that or a similar cause,” returned Vinnie. “I suppose we shall have to accept that explanation till a better one presents itself. It is strange that I should have allowed myself to be alarmed at so trivial a matter. I do not think I am superstitious. But that limp, helpless-looking black thing did appear ghastly through the storm!”