United States or Lithuania ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Meanwhile Ridgar and De Courtenay pushed silently forward with the limp body of McElroy swinging between, while the girl stepped softly in their trail, straining her ears for sounds from the camp, and carrying the only weapon among them, a rifle which Ridgar had taken from the Indian he had killed.
"Greatly does the heart of thy brother rejoice at such word, and a present over and above that meant for him shall be given Quamenoka. Let the talk go on. We listen." But before the chief could speak again, Edmonton Ridgar had broken silence: "Negansahima is chief of that tribe and my Indian father, he having adopted me with all ceremony once when I sojourned a year among them.
I see trouble ahead if this young De Courtenay gets wind of their coming, for they will be rich in peltry and they are a warlike tribe." "But they are to celebrate the Peace Dance in the lodges of the Assiniboines. Surely they will come straight to their friends before trusting their trade to any." Edmonton Ridgar shook his head.
So passed the days and the weeks, with quip and jest from Ridgar, whose eyes wore a puzzled expression; with such coddling and coaxing from Rette as would have spoiled a well man, and, with not the least to be counted, daily visits to the factory of the little Francette, who defied the populace and came openly.
A leader born himself, he was looking for a leader among McElroy's men; but, with that intrepid factor himself gone and Edmonton Ridgar also, there was nowhere a man with the signs of leadership upon him. Through Prix's mind this went while they stood listening to the death-wail that was beginning to rise from the tepees without. Then he quietly took command, knowing himself to be best fitted.
The body of Negansahima was placed in the first canoe, covered with a priceless robe of six silver foxskins laced together; the six big warriors, their halfnaked bodies painted black, manned the paddles, and at the prow there stood the sad figure of Edmonton Ridgar. At one side had drawn out old Quamenoka and his Assiniboines, their way lying to the west.
It is all as God wills. We are but shuttles in the web of this tangled life." "But tell me, what does she now? How looks her dear face?" Ridgar was silent a moment, and McElroy repeated his question, with his face still turned away: "Does she pass among them, the vipers? Does she seem to care for life at all now?" "Lad," said Ridgar gently, "I know not, for she is gone." "Gone!"
"Hey fear nothing, these Nakonkirhirinons, and would as soon enter trade with one as another, having come for trade, if the values were above those at York and Churchill. I hope they swing eastward to Winipigoos and thus miss that young hot-brain on the Saskatchewan." "By the way, Ridgar, Pierre Garcon says that Bois DesCaut is at Seven Isles on the Qui Appelle with Henderson.
What fate was meted out to him was swift and therefore merciful. Peace be to him! "No more I know, my friend, save that, when I returned to De Seviere, I found you ill with some fever of the brain." "But, Ridgar, for love of Heaven, what of Maren?"
McElroy was looking, after his habit, at the leaping flames and his thin hands played absently and constantly with the covering of the bed, when the door opened and closed and the little maid stood shrinking against it. He did not look up for long, thinking, if his dull mind could form a thought through his melancholy dreams, that Ridgar had come in.
Word Of The Day