As he entered the room he saw Dot sitting up in bed, and staring wonderingly at the shivered window-glass, particles of which lay all around.
"Oh, Mel!" said she, "papa will scold you for doing that; how came you to do it?"
"It was the bad Indians who fired through the window at me, and I fired at them: you were sleeping so soundly that you only half awoke; but you must keep still a few minutes longer."
"I thought that was you on the roof," she added, in a lower voice.
That there was someone overhead was certain. The rasping sound of a person moving carefully along the peak of the roof was audible. The lad understood the meaning of that which puzzled him when on the lower floor: one of the warriors3 was carefully climbing the chimney—a task not difficult, because of its rough uneven4 formation.
The significance of such a strange act remained to be seen. It appeared unlikely that any of the Sioux were daring enough to attempt a descent of the chimney; but that such was really his purpose became clear within the following minute.
The Indian, after making his way a short distance along the peak, returned to the chimney, where, from the noises which reached the [48]listening ones, it was manifest that he was actually making his way down the flue, broad enough to admit the passage of a larger body than himself.
"I won't be caught foul6 this time," said Melville, turning to descend7 the stairs again; "Dot, stay right where you are on the bed till I come back or call to you."
She promised to obey, and there could be no doubt that she would do so.
"They must think I'm stupid," muttered the youth, taking his position in the middle of the room, with his rifle cocked and ready for instant use; "but they will find out the idiot is some one else."
He had not long to wait when in the large open space at the back of the stove appeared a pair of moccasins groping vaguely8 about for support. The pipe from the stove, instead of passing directly up the chimney, entered it by means of an elbow. Had it been otherwise, the daring warrior2 would have found himself in a bad fix on arriving at the bottom.
It would have been idle for the young man standing9 on the watch to fire at the feet or legs, and he waited an instant, when the Indian dropped lightly on his feet, and, without the least hesitation10, stepped forward in the apartment and confronted Melville.
The latter was dumbfounded, for the first glance at his face showed that he was the chieftain Red Feather, the Indian whom of all others he least expected to see.
The act of the savage11 was without any possible explanation to the astonished youth, who, recoiling12 a step, stared at him, and uttered the single exclamation—
"Red Feather!"
[49]"Howly do, broder?" was the salutation of the Sioux, whose dusky face showed just the faintest smile.
Red Feather's descent of the chimney had not been without some disagreeable features. His blanket and garments, never very tidy, were covered with soot13, enough of which had got on his face to suggest that he had adopted the usual means of his people to show they were on the war-path.
"A pair of moccasins groping vaguely about for support."
His knife and tomahawk were thrust in his girdle at his waist, and throughout this laborious14 task he had held his rifle fast, so that he was fully1 armed.
"Howly do?" he repeated, extending his hand, which Melville was too prudent15 to accept.
"No," he replied, compressing his lips, and keeping his finger on the trigger of his gun, "Red Feather speaks with a double tongue; he is not our friend."
"Red Feather been bad Injin—want white folks' scalp—don't want 'em now—little pappoose pray to Great Spirit—dat make Red [50]Feather feel bad—he hab pappoose—he lub Injin pappoose—lub white pappoose—much lub white pappoose."
This remark shed light upon the singular incident. To Melville it was a mystery beyond understanding that any person could look upon the sweet innocent face of Dot without loving her. Knowing how vile16 an Indian Red Feather had been, it was yet a question with the youth whether he could find it in his heart to wish ill to his wee bit of a sister.
Was it unreasonable17, therefore, to believe that this savage warrior had been touched by the sight of the little one on her knees, with her hands clasped in prayer, and by her eagerness to keep away all harm from him?
This theory helped to explain what took place after the release of Red Feather from his odd imprisonment18. The five warriors whom he had brought with him upon his raid must have combated his proposal to leave the children unharmed. In the face of his savage overbearing disposition19 they had fought his wish to keep the pledge to them, while he as firmly insisted upon its fulfilment.
But if such were the fact, how could his descent of the chimney be explained?
Melville did not try to explain it, for he had no time just then to speculate upon it; the explanation would come shortly.
The youth, however, was too wise to act upon that which he hoped was the truth. He had retreated nearly to the other side of the room, where he maintained the same defiant20 attitude as at first.
Red Feather read the distrust in his face and manner. With a deliberation that was not lacking in dignity, he walked slowly to the corner of the apartment, Melville closely following him with his eye, [51]and leaned his gun against the logs. Then he drew his knife and tomahawk from his girdle, and threw them on the floor beside the more valuable weapon. That done, he moved back to the fire-place, folded his arms, and, fixing his black eyes on the countenance21 of the lad, repeated—"Red Feather friend of white folk."
"I believe you," responded Melville, carefully letting down the hammer of his rifle and resting the stock on the floor; "now I am glad to shake hands with you."
A broader smile than before lit up the dusky face as the chief warmly pressed the hand of the youth, who felt just a little trepidation22 when their palms met.
"Where pappoose?" asked Red Feather, looking suggestively at the steps leading to the upper story.
"Dot!" called Melville, "come down here; someone wants to see you."
The patter of feet was heard, and the next instant the little one came tripping downstairs, with her doll clasped by one arm to her breast.
"Red Feather is a good Indian now, and he wants to shake hands with you."
With a faint blush and a sweet smile Dot ran across the floor and held out her tiny hand. The chieftain stooped, and not only took the palm of the little girl, but placed each of his own under her shoulders and lifted her from the floor. Straightening up, he touched his dusky lips to those of the innocent one, murmuring, with a depth of emotion which cannot be described—
"Red Feather lub white pappoose—she make him good Injin—he be her friend always."
[52]The chieftain touched his lips but once to those of the little one, who showed no hesitation in accepting the salute23. Pure, innocent, and good herself, she had not yet learned how evil the human heart may become.
Not only did she receive the salute willingly, but threw her free arm around the neck of the Indian and gave him a kiss.
"Red Feather, what made you come down the chimney?" questioned Melville when the Indian had released his sister.
"Can't come oder way," was the instant response.
"True; but why do you want to enter this house?"
"Be friend of white folk—come tell 'em."
"I am sure of that; but what can you do for us?"
Red Feather gave no direct answer to this question, but walked upstairs. As he did so he left every one of his weapons on the lower floor, and by a glance cast over his shoulder expressed the wish that the brother and sister should follow him. They did so, Dot tripping ahead, while Melville retained his weapons.
Reaching the upper floor, the Sioux walked directly to the window through which the shots had come that shattered the two panes25 of glass.
There was a curious smile on his swarthy face as he pointed26 at the pane24 on the left, and said—
"Red Feather fire dat!"
The explanation of his remark was that had Melville kept his place in front of the window at the moment the rifles were discharged, only one of the bullets would have hit him, and that would have been the one which Red Feather did not fire.[53]
[54] "'She make him good Injin—he be her friend always.'"—Page 51
The shot which he sent into the apartment, and which filled the [55]youth with so much indignation, had been fired for the purpose of making the other warriors believe the chieftain was as bitter an enemy of the brother and sister as he was of all white people.
Having convinced his followers27 on this point, he made his position still stronger with them by declaring his purpose of descending28 the chimney, and having it out with them, or rather with the lad, within the building.
Red Feather peered out of the window, taking care that none of his warriors saw him, though they must have felt a strong curiosity to learn the result of his strange effort to overcome the little garrison29. Melville supposed that he had arranged to communicate with them by signal, for the result of the attempt must be settled quickly.
The youth took the liberty of peeping forth30 from the other window on the same side of the house.
Only two of the Sioux were in their field of vision, and their actions did not show that they felt much concern for their chief. They were mounted on their horses, and riding at a walk towards the elevations31 from which Red Feather had waved his blanket to the brother and sister when on the other side of the stream.
Melville's first thought was that they had decided32 to leave the place, but that hope was quickly dispelled33 by the action of the warriors. At the highest point of the hill they checked their ponies34, and sat for a minute gazing fixedly35 to the northward36 in the direction of the settlement.
"They are looking for our friends," thought the youth, "but I am afraid they will not be in sight for a good while to come."
At this juncture37 one of the warriors deliberately38 rose to a standing position on the back of his pony39, and turned his gaze to the westward40.
[56]"Now they are looking for their friends," was the correct conclusion of Melville, "and I am afraid they see them; yes, there is no doubt of it."
The warrior, in assuming his delicate position, passed his rifle to his companion, whose horse was beside him. Then, with his two hands free, he drew his blanket from around his shoulders and began waving it, as Red Feather had done earlier in the day.
Melville glanced across at Red Feather, who was attentively41 watching the performance. He saw the countenance grow more forbidding, while a scowl42 settled on his brow.
It was easy to translate all this. The Sioux had caught sight of some of their friends, and signalled them. This would not have been done had there not been some person or persons to observe it.
The party which the chieftain had described as being in the Muddy Creek43 country must have changed their course and hastened to join Red Feather and the smaller party. If such were the fact, they would arrive on the spot within a brief space of time.
The interesting question arose whether, in the event of such arrival, and the attack that was sure to follow, Red Feather would come out as open defender44 of the children against his own people. Had there been only the five original warriors, he might have played a part something akin5 to neutrality, on the ground that his descent of the chimney had turned out ill for him, and, being caught at disadvantage he was held idle under the threat of instant death. Still further, it might have been his province to assume the character of hostage, and thus to defeat the overthrow45 of the couple by the Sioux.
But the arrival of the larger party would change everything. Among [57]the Muddy Creek band were several who disliked Red Feather intensely enough to be glad of a chance to help his discomfiture46.
He had agreed that, in the event of his surprising the lad who was making such a brave defence, he would immediately appear at the front window and announce it, after which he would unbar the door and admit the warriors to the "last scene of all."
"'Let the Sioux send more of his warriors down the chimney!'"
Several minutes had now passed, and no such announcement was made. The other three Sioux were lingering near the building, awaiting the signal which came not.
While the two were engaged on the crest47 of the hill the others suddenly came round in front of the house. They were on foot, and looked inquiringly at the windows, as if at a loss to understand the [58]cause of the silence. Red Feather instantly drew back, and said in a low voice to Melville—
"Speak to Injin—dem tink Red Feather lose scalp."
Grasping the situation, the youth showed himself at the window, where the Sioux were sure to see him, and uttered a tantalizing48 shout.
"Let the Sioux send more of their warriors down the chimney!" he called out; "the white youth is waiting for them, that he may take their scalps."
This was followed by another shout, as the lad withdrew beyond reach of a rifle-ball, that left no doubt of its meaning on the minds of the astounded49 warriors.
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1
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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4
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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6
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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7
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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8
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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9
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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recoiling
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| v.畏缩( recoil的现在分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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soot
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| n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟 | |
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14
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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pane
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| n.窗格玻璃，长方块 | |
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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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elevations
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| （水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升 | |
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32
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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35
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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42
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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43
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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44
defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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45
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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46
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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47
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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48
tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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49
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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