Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/76

 safety.

for in such a presence and with such an act of devotion, I knew myself safe. I was only afraid to speak or move, lest I should wake to find it all a delusive dream.

But my desire to be assured of its re ality would not long let me remain silent, and at last I said :

"Sweet being, tell me the meaning of all I see."

"Friend, you must not talk," she replied in good English; " it will do you harm."

"Nevertheless, fair creature, you must answer my question. My curiosity is won derfully excited, and silence will harm me more than conversation."

She turned and addressed a few words to the old man, who now approached her side and gazed down upon me with a mild look. His reply was apparently satisfac tory; for looking full upon me again, she said:

"You may be right, and I will answer. You were badly wounde4 in the fight."

"I am aware of that."

"You were left upon the ground for dead."

"Ha! indeed I But the battle who won ?"

"Your friends were victorious."

"Surprising! What lucky chance of fortune gave them the victory?"

"A reinforcement."

"Indeed! from where?"

"Fort John."

This fort, now demolished, stood at the time of which I write about a mile below Fort Laramie, and was well garrisoned. From a mistaken confidence in our own abilities to win the day, we had neglected calling there for volunteers to augment our numbers and render our success more certain.

"And what brought them to our aid so opportunely?" I inquired.

"Certain timely information."

"By whom conveyed?"

"A friend to your race."

"By the same messenger that brought intelligence of the enemy to Fort Lara mie?"

"It matters not by whom. Let the re sult suffice."

"How shall I thank you, sweet Prairie Flower?"

'For what?"

"For all that you have done."

"I need no thanks."

"say not thus."

"Then thank me by your silenqg,"

"I will; and by my prayers for yor safety and happiness."

"Bless you!" she exclaime 1, fei v< ntljr "The only boon I would have asked, saw one."

"And what is that?"

"That you will not seek to kncT :noi of me and my history than I may choose to tell; and. that whatever you may see and hear that seems mysterious, you will reveal to none without my permission."

"To please sweet Prairie Flower," I answered, " I will strive not to be a med dler nor a babbler; though she must bear in mind where so much interest is excited, the task she has imposed is a hard one."

"Then by adhering to it, you will con fer upon her the deeper obligation."

"Yet I cannot forbear one question."

"Well?"

"Is Prairie Flower not of my race?"

"The judgment of the querist musf answer him."

"Will not you?"

"Not now perhaps nevt,r."

"I regret your decision, yet will not press the point. But to return to the bat tle."

"What would you know?"

"How it was won how I came to b neglected and why I am here."

"A reinforcement charging suddenly upon the enemy, alarmed and put him to flight. The victors pressed upon his rear, and left their killed and wounded upon the gory field. Before they returned, a few who beheld, but did not join the fight, found you and another in whom life was not yet extinct, and bore you both away."

"And and that other?" I gasped. "Was was it my friend?"

"None other."

"And he he is alive?"

"Ay, and doing well."

"Thank God! thank God! A. weight of grief is lifted from my heart. Bui where 0, tell me quickly where- Is b now?"

"Not far hence."

"And all is owing to you?"

"Nay, I said not that."