Part 29 (1/2)

”Oh, I'm so sorry!” said Mary.

”Why, my child?” asked Roughgrove.

”Because,” said Mary, ”he's a good-hearted Indian, and never would have harmed me. When he heard you coming, and raised his tomahawk to kill me, I looked in his face, and he could not strike, for there were tears in his eyes! I know he never would have thought of killing me, when calm, for he treated me very kindly before I escaped.”

”Maybe he ain't dead--I'll go and see,” said Sneak, repairing to the late scene of conflict. When he arrived he found the young chief sitting upright, having been only stunned; a gold band that confined his head-dress prevented the blow from fracturing his skull. He was now unresisting and sullen. Sneak made him rise up, and after binding his hands behind him with a strong cord, led him forth.

”You did not intend to kill me, did you?” asked Mary, in soothing tones. The chief regarded her not, but looked steadfastly downwards.

”He don't understand you, Mary,” said Boone.

”Oh, yes he does,” continued Mary; ”and he can speak our language, too, for I heard him talking, and thought it was you, and that was the reason why I came out of the pit.” Roughgrove addressed him in his own language, but with no better success. The captured chief resolved not to plead for his life. He would make no reply whatever to their questions, but still gazed downwards in reckless sullenness.

”What shall we do with him?” asked Glenn, when the rest of the party, (with the exception of Joe,) who had chased the savages far away, came up and stared at the prisoner.

”Let us set him free!” said Roughgrove.

”Kill him!” cried several.

”No!” exclaimed Mary, ”what do _you_ say, Mr. Boone?”

”It would be useless to kill him,” said Boone.

”Let him go, then,” said Glenn.

”No!” said Boone.

”Why?” asked Glenn.

”Because,” replied Boone, ”he is a chief, and we may make him the means of securing the settlement against future attacks. We will confine him in your garrison as a hostage, and send some friendly Indian to the Osages announcing his capture, and informing them that his life will be spared provided they keep away from the settlement for a certain length of time, at the expiration of which he shall be restored to them.”

”I am glad of that,” said Mary, ”for I don't believe he is a bad Indian. We will treat him kindly, and then I think he will always be our friend.”

”Take him along, and bind him fast in the sled, Sneak,” said Boone; ”but see that you do not injure him in the least.”

”I will. Oh, me and him are purty good friends now. Gee-whoa-haw,”

continued he, taking hold of the string behind, and endeavouring to drive the silent captive like an ox. The young chief whirled round indignantly, and with such force as to send Sneak sprawling several paces to one side. He rose amid the laughter that ensued, and remembering the words of Boone, conducted his prisoner away in a more respectful manner.

”Where's Joe?” at length inquired Glenn, seeing that he alone was missing.

”Oh! I'm afraid he's dead,” said Mary.

”If he is, I shall mourn his loss many a day,” said Glenn; ”for with all his defects, I would not be without him for the world.”

”Give yourself no uneasiness,” said Boone; ”for he is as well at this moment as you or I.”

”I hope so,” said Glenn; ”but I have not seen him since we first fired at the Indians.”