.

"I have already told you how greatly I admire you," I faltered, "and
you make no less fair a picture now."

"Then I shall not tempt you to add to your compliment," she hastily
responded, rising to her feet, "for I like loyalty in a man better than
mere gallantry of speech. You ask me about Little Sauk. He holds me
for ransom,--although Heaven knows 'twill prove but waste of time, for
I am aware of no one in all the East who would invest so much as a
dollar to redeem me from Indian hands. Yet such is his purpose, as
told to me this morning."

"Perchance, then," I urged, doubtfully, "you may prefer remaining
quietly here rather than risk the peril of trying to escape?"

She looked at me keenly, as if in wonder at my words; and I could see
that her eyes were moistening with the sudden rush of feeling.

"You are either dull of comprehension, John Wayland," she said, a bit
pertly, "or else you understand me less than any man I ever knew. If I
seem brave and light of heart amidst all this horror, 't is merely that
I may not utterly break down, and become an object of contempt. I
feel, Monsieur, I am not devoid of heart nor of the finer qualities of
womanhood. Prefer to remain here? Holy Mother of Christ! It would be
my choice to die out yonder on the prairie, rather than stay here in
these Indian lodges. There is no peril I would not face joyfully, in
an effort to escape from this place of torture and barbarity. I
confess that an hour ago I cared not greatly what my end might be; I
had lost heart and hope. But now your coming, as of one risen from the
dead, has brought back my courage."

"You will go, then, whenever and wherever I say?"

She stepped forward with her old frank confidence, resting both hands
in mine, her eyes upon my face.

"Out yonder in the night, and amid the sand, John Wayland," she said
earnestly, "I remember saying I would travel with you whithersoever you
wished. I know you far better now than I did then, and I hesitate not
at taking upon myself the same vow."

What power then sealed my lips, I know not. Doubtless there is a fate
in such matters, yet 't is strange the light of invitation in her eyes
did not draw me to lay bare my heart. In naught else had I a drop of
coward blood within my veins; while here I hesitated, fearful lest her
pleading face might change to sudden roguishness, and she laugh lightly
at the love that held my heart in thrall. Truly, the witch had puzzled