“O, no,� and Nathan laughed. “I believe you are trembling now. You are not afraid of that one Indian, I hope.�
“Yes,� Lissa said meekly, “I believe I was. It is lonely on this immense prairie, with no sign of habitation anywhere, and—he looked ferocious.�
Again Nathan laughed.
“You’ll get used to them when you have them for neighbors.�
In the middle of the afternoon they stopped upon the banks of the river and baited their horses, and rested while partaking of their luncheon which they had brought with them. They had passed through many small towns on their way, towns of mushroom growth, and at one of them they had bought their dinner.
“We are upon the old overland route,� Nathan said. “Over this road many emigrants have toiled along, suffering and dying, many of them at the hands of the Indians. Do you see that ridge of earth which seems to have been artificially thrown up there? That was undoubtedly a sort of breastwork hastily made by a party of emigrants who were assaulted at this place.�
Lissa shuddered. “Can it be possible I am really in this wild land of which I have read. I wonder if any were killed here, and if the ground has been soaked with their blood. How strange it all seems! I can imagine so much since seeing that Indian. He does not look much like those I have seen at Niagara, selling bead-work.�
“Not much; and you will receive another impression should you ever see a band out on a war expedition against a hostile band, fully decorated with warpaint and feathers. They really look formidable then.�
Lissa shivered again.
“We have made good time to-day. How far do you think we have driven?� Nathan asked as, toward evening, they approached the suburbs of a small town.