Part 32 (2/2)

f.a.n.n.y ran the boat up to the sh.o.r.e, and Ethan, always dreading the treachery of the savages, kept his gun and revolver in readiness for immediate use. The time had come for Wahena to take leave of the party.

He was profoundly affected at the thought of bidding adieu to f.a.n.n.y; he did not appear to like Ethan or the trapper. He pressed her hand, looked very sad, and made his demonstrative gestures. She kissed him on the cheek, pointed up to the sky, and laid her hands upon his head. If she could have spoken to him, she would have expressed the wish that he would abandon the savage life of his people, and become a true man; and she would have been glad to teach him the religion of the Saviour, now so dear to her, and to show him how to _hope and have_.

Wahena turned slowly and sadly away from her, and walked to the Indians who were waiting for him. A stout fellow lifted him on the horse in front of him, and dashed away; but f.a.n.n.y could see him trying to obtain a last view of her, as the savages entered the forest. She missed him very much as the boat continued on her course. The Indian boy was much attached to her, and she found herself much interested in him. She has not seen him since they parted, and probably they never will meet again in this world; but her blessing will go with him, and perhaps her gentle influence will soften his savage nature, and be reflected in his kindness to the white people with whom he may come in contact.

At sundown the bateau pa.s.sed into the Minnesota, and at dark the party landed at Mankato, only three miles below the mouth of the Blue Earth, on which the last part of the voyage had been made.

We need not say that the party found plenty of warm friends; for when it was known that they were fugitives from the Indian ma.s.sacre, every house and every heart was open to them. Troops in large numbers had gone forward for the suppression of the insurrection, and confidence was in a great measure restored. The place was full of people who had escaped, and the savages were being captured and sent hither for trial.

The party were accommodated at the house of a trader, who supplied them with all they wanted, both of food and clothing. It was now time to think of the future. By the merciful interposition of Providence, the exiles had been saved from death and captivity; but they had no home, and no relations. f.a.n.n.y knew what a warm welcome awaited her at Woodville, and she was desirous of going there; but she had no money to pay for such a long journey. She mentioned her wish to the trader, and he promptly offered to advance her a sufficient sum to enable her and Ethan to reach their destination.

”Where are you going, Rattles.h.a.g?” asked f.a.n.n.y, when her own and Ethan's future movements had been arranged.

”I dunno.”

”Why don't you join the sogers, and help put down the Injins?” asked Ethan. ”You are a dead shot, and they'd like to hev you.”

”I can't do thet,” replied Rattles.h.a.g, shaking his head.

”Why not? They want all the good men they kin git, and you'd be wuth a heap to 'em, for you know all about the Injins,--whar to find 'em, and how to trap 'em,” added Ethan, with considerable warmth; and he was a little inclined to offer his own services.

”The Injins hes allers ben my friends, and I don't want to help kill 'em. They've ben abused, and thet's what made 'em rise up agin the whites. They've ben cheated out of their land, and then cheated out of the money they ought to hev fur it. I pity 'em, and I shan't help kill 'em. I shall go back to the woods when the fightin' 's over, and live like I allers did.”

The next day Ethan and f.a.n.n.y shook hands with Rattles.h.a.g, and bidding him a cordial good by, started upon their long journey to the eastward.

The prairie boy was greatly excited at the prospect of seeing the great cities of the country through which he was to pa.s.s. On cars and steamers where it was known that the boy and girl were refugees from the great Indian ma.s.sacre, they were the lions of the hour. They were often called upon to tell their story of peril and death, and every one was kind and generous to them. They were frequently invited to private houses on the journey; but they declined all invitations, and hurried on as fast as steam could convey them to their destination, and arrived at Woodville without even stopping to sleep a night on the way.

Mrs. Green gave the exiles a motherly welcome. The fact that the ma.s.sacre had extended to the settlement where f.a.n.n.y's uncle resided had been published in the newspapers, and the housekeeper and servants believed that she had been one of its victims. She was welcomed, therefore, as one who had come from the grave. Ethan was regarded as a hero at the mansion and in its vicinity, and became a person of no little distinction.

Ethan French was a young man of no little manliness and independence.

After he had spent a week in idleness, and had told the story of his escape from the Indians till it had become tiresome to him, he began to look about him for a situation in which he could earn his own living.

But Mrs. Green induced him to remain at Woodville until the return of Mr. Grant; and he worked in the garden and stable.

Without waiting for instructions from Mr. Grant, the housekeeper forwarded to the kind-hearted trader the sum of money which he had advanced to pay the expenses of f.a.n.n.y and Ethan from Mankato to Woodville. The money was accompanied by a letter of thanks from f.a.n.n.y.

In November, the family returned from Europe. Mrs. Green had already informed them by letter of the safety, and of the arrival at Woodville, of f.a.n.n.y Jane, as she was called in the house. Mr. Grant and his daughters had suffered a great deal of anxiety on her account, after they read the intelligence of the ma.s.sacre, and they were heartily rejoiced to meet her again, after believing for months that she was dead, or worse than dead--a captive in the hands of the barbarous Indians.

Ethan, awkward and unaccustomed to good society, was overwhelmed by the kindness of what he called the ”grand people.” He was invited into the drawing-room, and from him and f.a.n.n.y a very correct account of their adventures was obtained.

”f.a.n.n.y Jane, I can hardly believe you are the same girl I had in my charge,” exclaimed Miss f.a.n.n.y, when both stories had been told and discussed.

”But I am,” said the orphan girl, with a blush.

”I am sure none of us would have behaved so well in the midst of such trials,” added Mrs. Sherwood. ”It is terrible to think of.”

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