tribe? Was she upon the ground?

I rose to my feet, and was going for my horse. I saw Wingrove advancing
towards me. The old shadow had returned to his brow. I might exult in
the knowledge of being able to dispel it--once and for ever? Fortunate
fellow! little suspected he at that moment how I held his happiness in
my hand--how, with one word, I could raise from off his heart the load,
that for six long months had weighed heavily upon it! Yes--a pleasant
task was before me. Though my own heart bled, I could stop the bleeding
of his--of hers, both in a breath. Now, or not yet? I hesitated. I
can scarcely tell why. Perhaps it was that I might enjoy a double
delight--by making the disclosure to both of them at once? I had a
sweet surprise for them. To both, no doubt, it would be a revelation
that would yield the most rapturous joy. Should I bring them face to
face, and leave them to mutual explanations? This was the question that
had offered itself, and caused me to hesitate and reflect. No. I could
not thus sport with hearts that loved. I could not procrastinate that
exquisite happiness, now so near. At once let them enter upon its
enjoyment! But both could not be made happy exactly at the same
instant? One or other must be first told the glad truth that was in
store for them? Apart they must be told it; and to which was I to give
the preference? I resolved to follow that rule of polite society, which
extends priority to the softer sex. Wingrove must wait!

It was only with an effort, I could restrain myself from giving him a
hint of his proximate bliss. I was sustained in the effort, however, by
observing the manner in which he approached me. Evidently he had some
communication to make that concerned our future movements? Up to that
moment, there had been no time to talk--even to think of the future.

"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?" It was not any lightness of heart
that caused me to give an ironical form to the interrogative. Far from
that.

"Well, capt'n," replied my comrade, "it is rayther ugly news the
red-skinned devil's told