Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 3, 2025
And surely this will come to me in the court of Ronador." The wild moon drifted behind a cloud, the sea darkened, something huge and shadowy lumbered down to the water and splashed heavily away, the cat owl hooted. A mist drooped trailing fingers over the water as the wind died away. A profoundly dreary setting for a dream of empire! "See!" said Keela shyly. "It is the camp of my people."
What wonder that he can not see you as you are, a dark-eyed child of the race of white men!" "I do not wonder." "He has been grave and very deferential, gathered wood for you and carried water. Yesterday there was a freshly killed deer at the door of the wigwam. It is the first shy overture of the wooing Seminole." "I know. Keela has told me. It has all frightened me a little.
In the torture of his self-abasement, the over-strung ligament in his head fell ominously to droning again. Everything seemed remote and unreal. He hated the awful silence about him the crash of his horse's feet through the matted brush and the twist of palmetto, resolved itself into dancing ciphers. Ahead Keela stopped.
Let me tell you all," and he told of the night in the Sherrill garden; of the brutal desire that had later come with the brooding and the wild disorders of his brain, to drive him deeper and deeper into the black abyss until he fought and won by the camp fire; of his consequent panic-stricken rebound of horror and remorse when he had put it all aside, fighting the call with reason, seeking desperately to crush it out of his life, until the sight of Keela in the satin gown had sent him back with a shock to that finer, cleaner, quieter call that had come in the Sherrill garden.
Furtive recourse to the drug in his pocket presently flushed his veins with artificial calm. He fell asleep to find his dreams haunted again by the lovely face of Keela, kinder and gentler now than that proud, imperious face above the line of flashing topaz. He awoke with a start. The Indian girl lay asleep on a blanket by the fire. The world of moon-haunted jungle and water was very quiet.
His thoughts were so far away that a soft footfall behind him and the rustle of satin seemed part of that other night until turning restlessly, he caught the sheen of satin, brightly gold in the lantern-glow. The dark, vivid skin, the hair and eyes that were somehow more Spanish than Indian the golden mask Carl's face went wildly scarlet. "Keela!" he cried, springing toward her, "Keela!"
You will not ride away soon to the far cities of the North?" "No!" said Diane. "No indeed! Not for ever so long. I'm tired. Likely I'll hunt a quiet spot where there's a lake and trees and lilies, and camp and rest. You won't forget me, Keela?" Keela had a wordless gift of eloquence. Her eyes promised. Diane smiled and tightened her hold of the slim, brown Indian hand.
Seeing the sinister command there before him, even though the knowledge was not new, Carl felt a nameless fury rise in his reeling brain. He must live live live! he told himself fiercely. With the vivid, lovely face of Keela tormenting him to sensual conquest, he must live no matter what the price! How safeguard his life from the men who were hunting him? What if Diane were to die? Carl shuddered.
It is a legend of my mother's people, but I do not think," added Keela majestically, "that the wild and beautiful tribe of mystery who were sons and daughters of the Sun, are half so beautiful as you!"
She held forth a cup of woven leaves, and the glance of her great black eyes was very soft and gentle. Carl flushed and taking the cup with shaking hand, drank. There was a flash of gratitude in his eyes. "Themar?" he whispered. "Where is he?" He looked toward the trees beyond. "In the swamp!" said Keela, her face stern and beautiful. "It is better so." "You you dragged him there?"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking