“Curse the girl—no, I won’t curse her, either, for were I in her fix, I’d want to settle for my stolen tongue, myself. Good-by, Oll. I’ve fixed every thing handy for you—rifle, meat, ammunition and all. Something tells me—”
He suddenly paused and rose to his feet, leaving the sentence incomplete.
He was going to say that an inward monitor told him that they were never to meet in life again, but he would not sorrow the parting with such words.
“Come, girl,” he suddenly cried, turning to the Indian. “If you must go, I’ll take you; but God knows I wish you’d stay with Oll.”
Ulalah started forward at the hunter’s command, and a minute later the stricken trader was the sole occupant of the cave!
And as he saw them disappear, the terrible presentiment that they were never to meet again came over him; and the thought of his daughter’s fate drew a groan from his heart.
Then in silence he lay in the weird light of the dying fire, wishing God-speed to the twain who were hastening through the forest, toward a spot already tragic in the eyes of the reader.
CHAPTER XI.
WHAT HAPPENED IN A CAVE.
It was far from Coleola’s intention to leave the country when she parted in rage from the war-party on the banks of Cahokia Creek, as described in chapter sixth. She retraced her steps to the hunted Peoria’s hidden home, where for many hours, like the jungle-tiger, she lay in wait for her prey. But that noble prey came not; some unseen power held Swamp Oak aloof from the snare, and, when tired of lying in ambush, the Snake Queen left the cave, and sought for the Yellow Bloodhound and his pale prisoners.