Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/80



Some half an hour was he occupied in this proceeding, during which I suffered more or less pain from the removal of the bandages, which, having become dry and stiff, adhered rather too closely to the af fected parts.

Thinking it useless to question him, I made no remark, but passively suffered him to do as he pleased which he did, without appearing to notice me any more than it' I were dead, and he performing the last office of sepulture.

At length, the bandages being replaced, and my condition rendered as comfortable as circumstances would permit, he ten dered me some light food and water both of which I partook sparingly and with the single word "Onh-chi," and a nod of his head, turned away and left me to my meditations. In ten minutes I was again asleep.

When I next awoke, the sun was stream ing through the open doorway and crevi ces of the old cabin, and, to my surprise, I found Prairie Flower again kneeling by my side. Her eyes were turned upward as before, and her lips moved, but not a sound issued from them. She was evi dently making a silent appeal to Heaven in my behalf; and as I lay and gazed upon her sweet, placid countenance, and felt that all this was for me, me thought I had never beheld a being so lovely; and she seemed rather an immortal seraph, bent at the Throne of Grace, than a mortal tenant of this mundane sphere.

At length she arose, and with a charm ing smile upon her features, and in the sweetest tone imaginable, said :

"And how fare you this morning, my friend ?"

"I feel much refreshed," I answered, 'by a night of calm repose and my btrength is evidently improving."

"1 am glad to hear it for you have been nigh unto death."

"I am aware of it, and know not how lo express to you rny deep obligations for my recovery."

"As I told you before, no thanks are due me. I did but my duty, and my own conscience has already rewarded me ten fold. Those who labor to effect all the good they can, need no thanks expressed in words for words are superfluous."

"And yet had I done for you what yov have done for me, would you not have thanked me?"

"Doubtless I should."

"And will you not allow me the privi lege you would have claimed yourself! Would it have pleased you to find me ungrateful ?"

"I cannot say it would," she replied, musingly; "for, like others, I am only mortal; and perhaps vain too vain of having what little I do appreciated. I should not have such feelings, I am well aware; but they are engrafted in my na ture, and I cannot help it."

"Then even oral thanks cannot be dis pleasing to sweet Prairie Flower?"

"Understand me, friend! There is a vast difference between expressing thanks by word of mouth, and being ungrateful. That you are not ungrateful, your look and actions tell therefore are words su perfluous.

"Well, then, I will say no more but trust that time will give me an opportunity of proving by acts, what at best could he but feebly spoken. I agree with you, that words in a case like mine are of little im portance. They are in fact ' trifles light AS air,' and as often proceed from the lips merely, as from the heart. But now a word of myself. Tell me, fair being, and do not fear to speak plainly regarding my present condition. Can I ever recover?"

"Great Medicine has pronounced you out of danger."

"Shall I ever regain the full use of ail my limbs ?"

"I know nothing to the contrary."

"And my wounds what are they?"

"You were found with your head fright fully gashed, and your skull slightly frac tured. Your left arm was broken, and the flesh around it badly bruised, apparently by the tread of a horse. Various other flesh wounds were found upon your per son made, seemingly, by some sharp in strument from which you bled profusely. These, together with loss of blood, pro duced a delirious fever, from which kind Providence has restored you, as it were by a miracle. For a week, life and death contended equally as it seemed for the victory. Many a time have I stood by your side, and thought ever