Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/81

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Jrew your last I can only compare yuur | critical condition to a person suspended by | a mere c.ord over a terrible abyss, with a strain upon it so equal to its strength that another pound would divide it and render death certain, and there hanging seven I days and nights, ere a safe footing could be effected on the solid earth above."

"You draw a fearful picture, Prairie Flower. But my friend did he know of I this?"

"Not fully. He knew you were badly wounded but we gave him all the hope we could, lest, with his own wounds, the excitement should prove fatal to him also. As it was, he was often delirious, and raved of you, and accused himself of dragging you hither and being the cause of your misery, perhaps death. Had we informed him you were dead, I do not think he would have survived an hour."

"God bless him for a noble fellow a true friend ' " I cried, while tears of affec tion flooded my eyes.

As I spoke, I noticed the countenance of Prairie Flower become suddenly crim son, p.nd then white as marble, while she averted her head and seemed uncommonly affected. What all this meant, I was at a loss to conjecture. In fact I did not give it much thought, for my mind was filled with the image of Charles Huntly, and I quickly added :

"Is he not a noble friend, sweet Prairie Flower?"

"He is indeed!" she exclaimed, looking at me earnestly a moment, as if to detect a hidden meaning in myiwords, and then dropping her eyes modestly to the ground.

"But his wounds?"

"Like yourself, he received two very se/ere contusions on the head, which ren dered him senseless for several hours."

"And how is he now?"

"He has so far recovered that he leaves his lodge, and occasionally takes a short stroll."

"And has he not been to see me?"

"No! we would not permit him."

"And how did a refusal affect him?"

"Quite seriously. But we told him that

your life, in a great measure, depended on your being kept perfectly quiet, and that as soon as he could do so with safety, he should be admitted to your presence. He seemed to grieve very much, but uttered no complaints."

"But you must let me see him now, Prairie Flower !"

"I do not know," she answered: "I will consult Great Medicine."

"But, Prairie Flower!" I called as she turned away.

"Well?"

"Remember, I must see him!"

"But surely you would not endanger your life and his?"

"Certainly not. But do you think such would be the effect of our meeting?"

"I am unable to say, and that is why I wish to consult Cha-cha-chee-kee-hobah. or, as we often term him, Great Medi cine."

"Go, then, and Heaven send I get a favorable answer."

Prairie Flower turned away, and ap proaching the Old-Man-of-the-Mountnins. held with him a short consultation. Then returning to me, she said :

"Great Medicine thinks it imprudent; but if you insist on it, he says you may meet; but at the same time he bids me warn you both to be cautious and not be come too much excited, or the worst of consequences may follow."

"I will endeavor to be calm, and se no cause why I should be more than ordi narily excited."

"You perhaps overlook, my friend, that a great change has taken place in the ap pearance of each of you since last you met; and your system being in a feeble state, a sight of your friend may affect you more than you are now aware of. The greatest change, however, is in your self; and I must prepare your friend to behold in you a far different person than he beheld on the night of the battle. I charge you beforehand, to brace your nerves and meet him calmly!"

Saying this, she turned and quitted tin