But Seth had misinterpreted her action. He thought she meant to explain. She kept hold of his hand, and tears were in her lovely eyes as she looked up into his dark face, now little more than a shadow in the faint light that came from the passage.
“Oh, Seth, Seth, it was all my fault!” she cried, in her distress. “Your poor shoulder! Oh, what should I do if you were to die! Oh——” And the girl fell on her knees at his side and kissed the hand 176 she was clinging to. The long threatened tears had come at last, and her voice was choked with sobs.
Seth had been unprepared for this outburst. It took him quite aback, and he felt a great lump rise in his throat. Unconsciously he almost roughly released his hand. But the next moment it was laid tenderly upon the bowed head.
“Git up, little gal,” he said. And there was a world of tenderness in his voice. His effort at self-restraint was great, but his feelings found a certain amount of expression in spite of him, for he was stirred to the depths of his loyal heart. He was face to face with a scene such as he had never even pictured. His sense of duty was powerless just then before his deep, strong love for the girl. “Little Rosebud,” he went on, and he struggled hard to make his words rough, “ther’s things to do. Go right back to Ma an’ help her. I must go out to Rube. He’s doin’ all the work, an’ so is she.”
The girl made no move to rise. Her sobs were heart-breaking. Seth turned sharply and left her where she was. He simply dared not stay there another moment.
Outside General was lying a few yards away from the house, crouched alertly, and gazing out prairiewards. He called the dog to him.
“Injuns, boy,” he said, in a low tone. “S-seek ’em!”
The dog responded with a low growl, and then 177 moved off out into the darkness, with the prowling gait of a puma stalking its prey.
“He’ll keep us posted,” Seth observed quietly to Rube.
“You kind o’ understan’ him.”