CHAPTER XXIX.
THE COMING OF THE MEDICINE MAN.
Lena Forest’s position in the Blackfoot village could hardly have been worse, for the malignity of two jealous Indian women was turned against her in every possible way to make her suffer.
These two women were Wind Flower and Wide Foot, the wife of Crazy Snake. Wide Foot had been told that Crazy Snake, her lord and master, was to install the new white squaw soon in his lodge, and that was enough to fill her heart with bitter enmity against the inoffensive white girl.
As for Wind Flower, she could not rid herself of the belief that Lightfoot, the handsome young chief who had promised to marry her, was stricken with the charms of the white girl prisoner. And as Lightfoot would probably be made head chief in the event of the death of Crazy Snake, Wind Flower saw herself at some future time dispossessed, as Wide Foot seemed about to be now.
Lena Forest had been placed in Crazy Snake’s lodge in charge of Wide Foot, who was ordered to care for her, and to see that she did not escape; and this Wide Foot was commanded to do on peril of her own life.
Though fear of Crazy Snake, whose anger was a thing to be dreaded, was enough to keep Wide Foot from doing the white girl harm of a serious character, it did not prevent her from annoying the prisoner in many ways.
At times both Wide Foot and Wind Flower would sit in the lodge entrance and make sport of the prisoner, grimacing, giggling at her, making faces at her, even spitting at her, to show their hatred and detestation.
Wide Foot even refused to give her food and water, withholding them until the white girl was fairly famished.
When Bruce Clayton was captured by the Blackfeet and brought into the village, Lena Forest’s prison-keeper tried to prevent her from knowing it. But the knowledge could not be long withheld. The Blackfeet were altogether too jubilant over the capture, and made too great a noise about it.
Lena Forest discovered that a prisoner had been brought in. When she tried to get out of the lodge, and was thrown back by Wide Foot, and then heard Bruce’s loud voice raised in anger at some insult, she hurled Wide Foot aside, and dashed out of the lodge.