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She was not bound, yet it was easy to see she was a captive. That could be told by the way she was encircled by the Indians, as well as by their treatment of her. She was on horseback, as already stated, and near to the Utah chief in front of him. Neither Wingrove nor I had any difficulty in identifying the captive. It was Su-wa-nee, the Chicasaw.
As Su-wa-nee drew up, she gave utterance to a shrill scream; and flinging herself from her horse, rushed onward in the direction of Marian. The latter had turned away at the conclusion of her frantic speech; and was now close to the bank of the stream, with her back towards us. There was no mistaking the intention of the Chicasaw.
"I've got somethin' to say to you, capt'n," said he, drawing near, and speaking in a serious tone; "it's better, may be, ye shed know it afore we go furrer. The girl's been givin' me some partickalers o' the caravan that I hain't told you." "What girl?" "The Chicasaw Su-wa-nee." "Oh true. What says she? Some pleasant news I may anticipate, since she has been the bearer of them?"
"Impossible eyther to hate or forget her. She may a been false, an' no doubt are so; but it's too late for me: I can niver love agin." A half-suppressed scream followed this declaration, succeeded by some words that appeared to be uttered in a tone of menace or reproach. But the words were in the Chicasaw tongue, and I could not comprehend their import.
With a savage growl the animal sprang forward; and, vaulting high into the air, launched himself on the breast of the Chicasaw at the same instant seizing her by the throat! In this position he clung holding on by his terrible teeth, and aided by his paws, with which he kept constantly clawing the bosom of the Indian!
I was myself so surprised at this proceeding, that I could not stir from the spot; and not until the Chicasaw had passed directly in front of us and halted there, could I believe that I was otherwise than dreaming. Wingrove appeared equally the victim of a bewildered surprise.
"Why, jest arter I'd killed the goat, an' war heisting it on my shoulders, I spied a Injun glidin' into the bushes. I seed it war a squaw; an' jest the picter o' the Chicasaw. She 'peared as ef she hed kim right from hyar, an' I thort you must a seed her." "Did you get sight of her face?" "No, her back war torst me, an' she kep on 'ithout turnin' or stoppin' a minnit.
"What girl?" I trembled, as I put the question: I was thinking of Lilian. "That darnationed devil of a Chicasaw." "What! Su-wa-nee?" "Yes Su-wa-nee." "Oh that cannot be? It could not be her?" "So I'd a thort myself; but darn me, capt'n! if I kin b'lieve it wa'nt her. What I seed war as like her as two eggs." "What did you see?"
The Chicasaw paused, as if to make more certain of her aim; and for a moment the two stood face to face glaring at each other with that look of concentrated hate which jealousy alone can give. It was the enraged tigress about to spring upon the beautiful panther that has crossed her path.
She may have Chicasaw blood in her veins; but her complexion is too light for that of a pure Indian. Her dress strengthens the impression that she is a sang-mele.
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