“Follow!”
The renegade touched the flanks of his “buck-skin” with the heavy silver spurs, and through the Pawnee village the twain galloped, toward the river.
Not a word was spoken by either until they drew rein on the bank of the western stream. Then the Pale Pawnee spoke a single word, and they leaped to the ground.
The night had fairly thrown her vail about the face of nature now, and the clear water glittered beautifully beneath the stars, as it pushed its way, with more than one sweet murmur, to the broad bosom of the Platte.
“Now we will settle about the captives,” said the renegade, as they threw themselves upon the rich grass that thrived to the very edge of the water. “I speak truly, chief, when I say that I don’t care which falls to my lot. If you have a preference, speak it, and you shall have my hand on my satisfaction.”
“The pale flowers are beautiful,” answered the Indian, quickly, and with a dash of admiration. “The eyes of one are as blue as the Manitou’s carpet, and her hair shines like the stones which the pale-faces seek for toward the setting sun. Her sister’s eyes are like the night; her hair as black as the crow’s wing. Red Eagle could live with either; but he and the Pale Pawnee will play for them.”
“I am satisfied. Go, get your sticks, chief, and let me guess as soon as possible.”
His tones proclaimed much impatience, and he watched the Indian move up the stream in the demi-gloom.
“Playing guess for a wife!” he ejaculated with a smile, when Red Eagle had passed beyond hearing distance. “I’ve got to humor that accursed red-skin, too. He’s becoming uncommon popular—too popular for me! I have more foes in this village than I ever had, and I find it pretty difficult to rule them. If that chap was out of my way! He’s doing all the mischief, and doing it so infernal slyly, too. He’s the best dissimulator this side the Rockies, and I can’t circumvent him. I know I stand over the crater of a volcano, and the fire that burns under my feet is his heart—his accursed scheming heart.”
“Who Pale Pawnee talking to?”