s of his return from the
Laramie trip they were riding together, and during that ride she asked
to be taken to Stabber's village, and there had talked long with that
magnificent young Sioux. Later, Field surprised her in tears, and then
she told him a pitiful tale. Eagle Wing had been educated, she said, by
her aunt and uncle,--was indeed their nephew and her own cousin. He had
been wild and had given them much trouble, and her aunt was in bitter
distress over his waywardness. It was to plead with him that she,
Nanette, had gone. "Moreau" had been taught mining and mineralogy, it
seems, and declared that he had "located" a most promising mine in the
Black Hills. He could buy off every claim if he had a thousand dollars,
and the mine might be worth millions. Hay pooh-poohed the story. Mrs.
Hay could not persuade him. Then "Moreau" became threatening. He would
join the hostiles, he swore, if his aunt would not help him. Indeed, and
here Field's young face burned with shame, Nanette told him that she
understood that he, Field, was an only son who might inherit wealth in
days to come, and could draw upon his father now for any reasonable sum;
and, within the week of his meeting her, he was on the point of offering
everything she needed, but that he disbelieved the Indian's story. Then,
one night, there came a note begging him to meet her at once. She had a
dreadful message, she said, from "Moreau." The fellow had frequently
been prowling about the trader's during the dark hours, and now she was
afraid of him, yet must see him, and see him at once, even if she had to
ride to Stabber's camp. Field's eyes were blinded and he went. Hay's
horses were ready beyond the corral, and she rode astride on one of
Hay's own saddles. They found "Moreau" awaiting them at the ford, and
there was a scene Field could not understand, for they spoke in the
Sioux language. That night it was that, all in tears at the Indian's
obduracy, she owned that he was her own brother, not merely a cousin,
and together they had all gone back toward Frayne. "Moreau" was to wait
on the flats until she could return to the house. She had been striving
to get him to make certain promises, she said, contingent on her giving
him something from her own means. Field said he remonstrated with her to
the utmost, but she told him no woman with Sioux blood in her veins ever
deserted a brother--or lover. And so she had returned with a packet,
presumably of money, and there