“‘How did he get them, did you ask? Well, he was away on a hunting expedition with a band of his Pawnees, when they were surprised by some Sioux. Mark got a flesh wound in his shoulder from a tomahawk blow, and a bullet grazed him in the left side. Close call, wasn’t it? The skirmish was on the bank of the Niobrara, where Mark’s party had fled for shelter, and he managed to get under water until a clump of hazel-brush enabled him to climb out and hide. He was too exhausted from the loss of blood to fight any longer. However, his men drove off the Sioux and found him and brought him home. Mark says I have represented him in a cowardly position. I hope not. He was in a dead faint when the men found him. Anyway, I don’t see any bravery in standing up to have your scalp taken off by a savage, do you? But men are so very sensitive upon those points.
“‘I can hardly wait for your arrival. Mark says I act like a crazy woman whenever I speak of it. O Lissa, Lissa, Lissa! We’re out of the world here, but I am sure you will enjoy it. I hug myself with delight whenever I think of seeing you so soon.’�
Nathan paused in his reading.
“It is wonderful,� he said. “Professor Russell must have seen the entire skirmish.�
“Yes,� responded Lissa, “unless he may have heard of it in some way. Alice does not say upon what day Mark was hurt.�
“Ah, you are yet a doubting Thomas,� Nathan said, smiling fondly upon the winsome upturned face of his girl-wife.
“No, only looking for a peg to hang a doubt upon. Nathan, I am very anxious to get to our new home.�
“My dear, we shall be there in a fortnight. I must wait until the wagon is finished, you know. I hope, little one, you will not be disappointed when you see what a poor home it is,� he continued, shaking his head doubtfully.
“I shall not be. Read the rest of Alice’s letter.�
Nathan continued his reading: