We must now return to Reginald Brandon, whom we left engaged in the disagreeable and perilous task of pursuing an unseen enemy down the slope of a steep hill in the dark. His was not, however, a foot or a heart likely to fail him in such an emergency, and, reckless alike of obstacles or of the difficulties in his path, he continued his rapid descent, and soon found himself among the glades and bushes whence the firing had aroused his attention. Advancing with his drawn cutlass still in his hand, he stumbled over something which he found to be the prostrate form of a man, and in whom he recognised by his dress one of his own party. Finding that he could extract from him nothing but broken and muttered sentences, about “the devil” and “the darkness,” he hastened on until he reached a spot where he heard several voices in earnest conversation; these he found to be War–Eagle, Wingenund, and Baptiste; and he soon gathered from the latter all that he had to tell, which was, that, having suddenly heard the crack of a rifle in the camp, and then seen a man rushing through the bushes in descending the hill, he had thrown himself in the way of the stranger, who, after nearly blinding him by the discharge of a pistol in his face, had darted past him into the thicket below. “I fired after him,” continued the honest guide, “both pistol and rifle, but I scarcely think I hit him, for on reaching the edge of the timber, I could just distinguish a horseman crossing the prairie at full speed to the Crow camp; ’tis a bad business, but I fear there is worse yet behind.”
“How mean you?” inquired Reginald.
“Why, I fear some foul play in our own camp; the fellow who shot the pistol at me was one of our party.”
“Impossible!” said Reginald; “I will not believe it.”
“Neither would I, if I could help it,” replied the guide; “but, dark as it was, I could plainly see the fur–cap and elk–shirt upon him; whoever it was, he joined Mahéga on the prairie, for the Washashee shouted his cursed war–whoop aloud to insult us.”
Wingenund here whispered a few words to War–Eagle, who replied, “Right, my young brother, let us visit the posts and the fires, we shall soon see who is missing.”
While the chief, with the aid of Pierre and Baptiste, undertook this task, Reginald returned, accompanied by Wingenund, to the spot where he had stumbled over the wounded man. They found him seated in the same place, but his senses had returned, and with the exception of the severe bruises on the head, they were glad to learn that he was uninjured. He could give no account of what had passed further than that already given by Baptiste. He had been prostrated and stunned by a heavy blow from some one descending the hill with great rapidity; he also stated his impression that he had distinguished the dress of a white hunter.
The result of the investigation may of course be anticipated; the unfortunate owner of the wolf–skin cap was suspected of having plotted with Mahéga, and (after aiding him in an attempt to murder Reginald) of having gone off with one of the best horses to the Crow camp. Such was the conjecture of some, and if there were others who guessed more nearly at the truth, their opinions were for the present reserved; it being, however, impossible to make further inquiry until daylight, the different parties retired to their respective quarters, and Reginald again sought the tent to give to Prairie–bird an account of what had passed, and to assure her of his safe return. At the first sound of his voice she came forth, and listened with breathless attention to his brief narration. The watch–fire had been fed with fresh fuel, and its light falling upon her countenance, enabled her lover to see the intense anxiety which it expressed; a handkerchief, hastily folded like a turban, covered her head, and a dark Mexican mantle was thrown over her shoulders; her hand trembled in his, and a slight shudder passed through her frame as he mentioned the name of Mahéga.
“Nay, dearest,” said Reginald, “I shall grieve, indeed, if the name of that hateful savage hath power so to move and disturb your peace. Fear him not: believe me, we shall yet defeat all his attempts, whether of hidden fraud or open force.”