Part 37 (1/2)

She bitterly lamented over the time we were losing, and blamed herself so severely that I finally consented to go on, providing she would keep behind me. Had the hurt been in her foot we would have been forced to camp for several days.

Toward night the country grew more broken and much rougher, and I knew we were nearing the Sandy. I feared she might trip over some obstacle, and we camped before the light deserted us. I told her we were within a few miles of the river and that we ought to strike it at the mouth of Savage Creek, some four or five miles from the Ohio. After starting a fire, she volunteered to remain and feed it while I looked for game. This in the way of doing penance, perhaps. I had the good luck to shoot a deer and we dined on venison.

After we had eaten she sat close by the fire and was silent for many minutes. That she was meditating deeply was shown by her indifference to the night sounds which usually perturbed her. The howling of the wolves, and the scream of a panther, leaping to make a kill, pa.s.sed unheard.

Suddenly she declared:

”You were right, Basdel.”

”About what, Patsy?”

”About my not fitting in west of the mountains.”

”That was said before you were tried. No woman, even border-born, could be more brave than you have been.”

”And I was so woefully wrong when I made fun of your long rifle. I want you to forgive me.”

”Patsy, don't. You are wonderful.”

”Still being good to me, Basdel. But I know the truth now. Back over the mountains I was wicked enough to feel a little superior to frontier folks.

No. Don't wave your hands at me. I must say it. I even felt a little bit of contempt for those brave women who went barefooted. G.o.d forgive me! I was a cat, Basdel. A vicious cat!”

”Good heavens, Patsy! Say it all and have done with it. Call yourself a pirate.”

She would not respond to my banter, but fell to staring into the handful of coals. Then the tears began streaming down her face, and at last she sobbed:

”Poor girl! Poor girl! She was a wonderful friend to me. She never had any chance, and you can never know how hard she tried to keep my spirits up; how ready she was to stand between me and harm--me, who has had every chance! And to end like that! And yet it was far worse to live like that.

It's best as it is, but G.o.d must be very good to her to make up for what she lost. Tell me, Basdel, did she suffer much when she died?”

She could be talking only of Cousin's sister. I declared:

”She suffered none. It's best for her as it is.”

She fell asleep with her back against a black walnut, and I spread my hunting-s.h.i.+rt over her, for the air was shrewdly cool. In the dying coals I saw pictures, wherein Kirst, Dale, and Lost Sister paraded in turn; the fate of each the result of race-hatred, and a race-avidity to possess the land. And a great fear came over me that the girl leaning against the walnut, the ma.s.s of blue-black hair seeming to bow down the proud head, was destined to be added to the purchase-price the frontier was ever paying.

It was her talk and tears that induced this mood, for I knew the Shawnees would have overtaken us by this time had they found our trail on the Kentucky sh.o.r.e. Common sense told me that for the remainder of our journey we would, at worst, be compelled to avoid small scouting-parties that had no intimation of our presence on the Big Sandy.

But so many gruesome pranks had been played by Fate that I was growing superst.i.tious. And I feared lest the girl should be s.n.a.t.c.hed from me at the last moment, just as safety was almost within sight. I slept poorly that night and what little rest I did obtain was along toward morning.

The girl awoke me; and I felt my face burning as I beheld her standing there, staring down accusingly, the hunting-s.h.i.+rt spread across my chest.

I sprang to my feet and slipped into the s.h.i.+rt, which was made like a coat, and waited for her to speak.

”So you've been sleeping cold,” she said.

”Nay. Very warm,” I replied, becoming busy with my moccasins.

”After this I will keep awake nights.”

”I did not need it. I always take it off at night It makes me too warm.”