CHAPTER IX.

AN AUDACIOUS PROCEEDING.

When the Indians, including the lover-like Apache were fairly beyond hearing of the emigrants, they ventured to indulge fully in their mirth.

There was something so inexpressibly ridiculous in the facts of this courtship, which could only find expression of laughter. None enjoyed it more than the fair one concerned; she considered it the greatest adventure of her life, and never wearied of listening to all its particulars, from those who had taken a closer observation of Cherouka’s actions than she had.

But after all there was a serious side to this matter,—at least the trappers concluded there was. They understood perfectly well the treacherous nature of these redskins, were certain that this chief would neglect no means of securing the prize which had been so decidedly refused him.

Believing it inadvisable to alarm their friends, they discussed the matter among themselves. The conclusion was that all three should stand guard that evening; and that through the day, one or two of them at least should keep unremitting watch.

When the suppers were eaten, several of the leaders of the emigrant train were acquainted with the facts of the case, while the others believed that only a prudential course was taken to guard against the thieving propensities of the redskins.

Fred Wainwright took his station near the wagon which contained the sleeping Florence Brandon, and to him no occupation could have been more delightful than thus to watch by the side of her whom he loved,—yes, madly loved: he confessed it, standing there alone in the gloom of the night. This girl, who little imagined that Fred Wainwright was not Fred Wainwright—but——ah! well, perhaps the past was to be a dream and perhaps not. At any rate his duty just there was to stand guard over the fair being who occupied his waking and sleeping thoughts to the exclusion of almost everything else.

Not a minute’s sleep visited the eyes of the Trappers of the Gila, through that same summer night. They passed from point to point, continually moving through the train, among the wagons, and once or twice, one or two of them passed out upon the prairie and scrutinized every point visible.

The night was semi-dark,—a faint moon rising high in the sky, now and then obscured by the passing clouds. Occasionally the vision was able to penetrate for several hundred yards, and then it was restricted to a fifth of that distance.

Leonidas Swipes had scented the danger, and declared that he would also keep guard during the night; for he could not consent to run any risk of losing the intended head of the female department of the Fort Mifflin Institute. He averred that his sense of hearing was so acute that he could instantly detect the approach of any creature,—no matter if it was a weasel, or the tiny serpent that sometimes moves among the grass.

Mr. Swipes took his position just in the rear of the large white-covered wagon in which Florence Brandon was sleeping, all unconscious of the faithful guardianship which was kept over her. Here he leaned against the heavy rear wheel, and gave himself up to cogitation.

The young hunter, toward the middle of the night, made a circuit of the encampment; and, as he came back, observed the figure of the man leaning against the wagon, and concluded to test the extreme watchfulness of which he had boasted. Walking rather lightly, therefore, he approached him from behind, and, finding he attracted no attention, he stepped more heavily until he was making more than usual noise. Still the vigilant sentinel did not turn his head, and Fred noticed that he was muttering something to himself.

“No doubt she’ll be just the ticket, I swan if she won’t; but to wake her now, or to wait till morning is the question. I’d have a better chance to talk it over with her, and by jingo! I’ve a good notion to give the wagon a rattle so as to wake her up——Injins! Injins!”

At that instant, the heavy hand of the young hunter grasped the Yankee’s shoulder, and, fully assured that he was in the power of the dreaded Cherouka, he sprang several feet from the ground, and shouted at the top of his voice; but, confronting Wainwright, and immediately comprehending his mistake, added in fully as loud a tone,

“No Injins! No Injins! I was mistaken! Jingo! what’s the use of scaring a fellow that way?” he demanded, still shivering from the shock he had received.

“I didn’t know you were so easily frightened.”

“But you come on a feller so suddent like,—didn’t give me time to collect my presence of mind.”

“That is about the style that a redskin would have approached you, except that instead of his hand, he would have brought down his tomahawk on your head.”

“You don’t say so! I s’pose he would, but then I wouldn’t ’ve let him come in that style. I’d ’ve fout him mighty hard.”

“Didn’t you tell me, you would detect the approach of an Indian, no matter how stealthy he came up to you?”

“Well, so I would.”

“Why didn’t you hear me?”

“You didn’t come up like an Indian, as you say yourself.”

“I know that; I made twice as much noise.”

“That is just the reason I didn’t notice you; if you had come up natural like,—that is as one of your genouine redmen always do, I’d ’ve heard you, you may be sure.”

“And what would have been the consequence?”

“I would have whipped round with the quickness of lightning, if not a little quicker, and blowed the audacious redskin to blue blazes, before he would have known anything or could have said Jack Robinson.”

At this juncture, a figure suddenly appeared among them, which quickly resolved itself into Ward Lancaster, their guide.

“What’s all this húbub about?”

“Nothing at all, Mr. Lancaster, nothing at all,” replied Swipes.

“But if I aint powerful mistaken, I heern some one yell out that the Injins were coming.”

Thus fairly detected, the Yankee was compelled to acknowledge the truth, and receiving a warning from the trapper to “put a stopper in his meat-trap,” the guide sauntered away to his own post of observation where he remained until the break of day.

Finally morning came, and with it the pleasant fact that nothing had been seen or heard of a single redskin since the departure of the party the evening before. This was a pleasant fact we say, and was a great relief to the trappers, who had concluded to a certainty that there would be trouble before the night passed.

As soon as it was fairly light Lancaster and Harling rode out on the prairie and took a survey of the surrounding country to look for signs of their enemies. They scrutinized the hills closely, but with the same result,—nothing was seen or heard regarding them.

“We’ll keep a sharp look-out for the warmints to-day, and if we don’t see nothin’ of ’em, why it’ll _kinder_ look as though they didn’t intend to trouble us.”

“Your fear, I suppose, is that Cherouka became so desperately enamored with the young lady we have in our charge that he may try to take her away from us against our will.”

“Injins are queer critters,” replied the guide, “and it’s just like ’em to try some such a trick. I’ve knowed of such things before.”

“That fellow was desperately smitten, wasn’t he?”

“Yes,” drawled the trapper, “but not much more than another person we’ve got with us.”

“Who is that?” demanded Fred innocently.

“Him as riding alongside of me on his horse. They call him Fred Wainwright I b’leve; and, if I aint powerful mistaken, the gal has took quite a shine to him.”

The poor young hunter almost sank from his beast. He never dreamed for an instant that any one suspected his secret, and he now feared that it had been discovered by all.

“Shoot me, you’re red in the face as a b’iled lobster,” laughed the guide perfectly merciless. “It’s plain enough you’re gone any way. Wal, she’s a pretty critter to look and to have take a hawkerin’ for a feller.”

“Do you think she has noticed me,—that is—that is—”

“Loves you, why don’t you say?”

“Well, yes, if you please.”

“Can’t say that. When you stepped in atween the Apache and her, all so sassy and bold, I could see plain enough she rather liked your way of doing things. I think everything is plain sailing for you.”

There was a vast deal of comfort in the words of the honest hearted trapper, and the young hunter reflected upon them many a time through the day. They stirred old emotions in his breast, and nothing that could have been said by any one—always excepting the fair Florence herself—could have been more prized or imparted a greater degree of pleasure.

The journey of the train was resumed, and progressed through the day without any incident worthy of record. The character of the country changed, becoming more rugged and precipitous and they came in sight of several snow-covered peaks, towering against the blue sky beyond, like masses of white clouds. Now and then, too, a breeze of wind—chilling and penetrating swept over them, bringing the climate of these icy regions with it.

Mr. Swipes introduced himself to Miss Brandon during the afternoon, and regaled her for over an hour with his plans for the successful establishment of the Fort Mifflin Institute, greatly to her edification and amusement. She listened patiently to him, and then, as in duty bound, referred him to “papa,” with which the enthusiastic educator was compelled to content himself for the time being.

A sharp vigilance was maintained during the entire day; but nothing was seen of wild Indians although there was any abundance of wild animals. This fact led the trappers to the hope and half belief that they would suffer no further molestation from Cherouka and his party at least.

The encampment at night was in a small beautiful grove, on the banks of a tiny stream of icy cold water, where abundance of the best of fodder was found. Everything was arranged with the usual care, and, as the trappers were considerably wearied, Lancaster and Wainwright concluded to obtain a good night’s rest, while the opportunity was given them. There was no saying when a like chance would occur.

Harling remained up, taking a general oversight of the sentinels, while Swipes, as before placed himself in the vicinity of the wagon, containing the precious person of her whom he intended should help him make a fame and fortune in the State of the Golden Gate! He affirmed that she could not be safe unless he were in the immediate vicinity.

It was far beyond midnight, and Leonidas Swipes was soundly sleeping, when a shadow emerged from the darkness that surrounded the grove, and stole as noiselessly forward as a phantom. Straight toward the wagon it glided. Sh! it pauses and glares around in the darkness; the sentinel is soundly sleeping—now it enters the rear of the wagon; there is a slight sound but not enough to wake the dilatory sleeper—the next moment he reappears bearing a form in his arms, with his broad hand pressed over her mouth,—with the same absolute silence it steals through the encampment and the next moment Cherouka, the Apache chief has vanished and with him Florence Brandon.