“Oh, spare me, spare me this, and my eternal gratitude shall be yours.”
“Sorry I couldn’t do it, my rosy. But these ’ere sufferin’ Injins would tommyhawk ye in less’n no time. Seems to me ye’re mighty ungrateful, seein’ as I saved yer from ’em jest a bit agone.”
“Let me go now, and if I must fall a prey to their ferocity, so be it. Anything is preferable—even death itself.”
“Couldn’t possibly listen to any such thing, not even to ’commodate my sweetheart. My heart’s tender, an’ I couldn’t bear to see your purty head chopped in two pieces by the red-men. All I cum over for was to find ye, an’ take ye home with me. Maybe I’ll make it in my way to wipe out that baby-face what’s been enjoyin’ the smiles I coveted all this time. I’d be really happy to oblige ye, but the fact is, ye’re a little down in the mouth to-day, and will fell better when ye come to think it all over; when ye find Charley don’t mourn for the absence of his mistress.”
“Oh, you cannot—you will not harm Charles Markley,” the suffering girl pleaded. “He has never done anything to harm you.”
“I tell you, gal,” broke in the renegade, fiercely, “he has done enough. If nothin’ more, he’s stood in my way—he’s enjoyed the smiles I was a-dyin’ for—he couldn’t walk on the ground where my shadder had passed, because I’s a little wild; but he’s played with a whirlwind, an’ he must take the shock of it.”
The dark man turned partly away as he ceased speaking, and stood for some moments regarding the fiery scene before him. Dreadful had been the first misery of the maiden, now it seemed a thousand times enhanced. Father, brother, self—all were swallowed up in anxiety for the fate of another—one even dearer than life itself. Oh, that she could fly to him, and warn him of the danger that would soon burst upon his devoted head. Reason seemed giving away beneath the dread accumulation of misery. Soon she was aroused by the rough voice of her persecutor.
“I don’t suppose ye’ll feel like trampin’ far to-night, if ye have yer own hoss to ride on. I may as well tell ye, ye’re goin’ back to my snug little home across the great river; when ye get there ye’ll have all that heart can crave, an’ a good, lovin’ husband besides. You’re not goin’ to be forced along as fast as the red legs o’ these braves can carry ’em. Ye’ll be took along easy, an’ used like a queen, if ye mind how to talk. To-night ye’ll go out a mile or two, an’ camp. In the mornin’ ye can move ahead slowly. You see I hev’ arranged everything for yer comfort. Probably they’re anxious to be off; so, if ye’ll mount, I’ll help ye!”