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I asked. "Well Su-wa-nee says that the carryvan's broke up into two." "Ha!" "One helf o' it, wi' the dragoons, hes turned south, torst Santa Fe; the other, which air all Mormons, hev struck off northardly, by a different pass, an' on a trail thet makes for thar new settlements on Salt Lake." "There's not much news in that. We had anticipated something of the kind?" "But thar's worse, capt'n."
"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?"
"Ay, stranger, an' it's only this minnit, an' from that same Injun girl, that I've heard she's married, an' gone off to the Mormons. The Injuns had it from some o' her people, that seed Marian a crossin' the parairies." "That Indian damsel Su-wa-nee, I think you named her what of her?" "Ah! stranger, that's another o' the konsequences o' doin' what aint right.
Truly had she merited the praises which the young backwoodsman had oft lavished upon her. To all that he had said the most critical connoisseur would have given his accord. No wonder that Wingrove had been able to resist the fascinations of the simpering syrens of Swampville no wonder that Su-wa-nee had solicited in vain!
This was my first reflection; and almost simultaneous with it arose another half-interrogative conjecture: was it Su-wa-nee? No. The foot was too small for that of the forest maiden. I had a remembrance of the dimensions of hers. The tracks before my eyes were not over eight inches in length: and could only have been made by a foot slender, and of elegant shape.
I did not for a moment entertain the idea that it was the Chicasaw he had seen; and yet my comrade was fully impressed with the belief, and reiterated the assertion that he had either seen Su-wa-nee or her "shadder." Though the thing was improbable, it was not beyond possibility. We knew that there were Indians travelling with the train: we had heard so before starting out.
Another scornful laugh, and her words broke forth: "White Eagle! and proud slayer of red panthers! your hearts are troubled as the stream on which your eyes are gazing! Su-wa-nee knows your sorrows. She comes to you with words of comfort." "Ah! speak them then!" said I, suddenly conceiving a hope. "Hear you that sound in the forest?"
The dark Indian eye was raised upon me with an angry flash; but no other reply was vouchsafed. "Su-wa-nee!" I repeated in the most conciliatory tone. "Do you not remember me? I am the friend of the White Eagle." "And what is that to Su-wa-nee? She has no words for you you may go on!" This decided repulse, instead of bettering my position, rendered it still more complicated.
Somewhat confusedly, I rejoined: "I am on the way to visit the White Eagle. I thought perhaps you might that possibly you might have some message for him." "Su-wa-nee has no message for the White Eagle!" replied she, interrupting me, in the indignant tone, and with a contemptuous toss of her head. "If she had, she would not choose a false pale-face, like himself, to be its bearer.
"Perhaps," thought I, "she does not recognise me?" She had not looked at me as yet. "If she would only raise her eyes, she would remember me as the friend of the White Eagle. That might initiate a conversation; and cause her to interpret more kindly my apparent rudeness. I shall speak to her at all hazards. Su-wa-nee!"
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