Page:The Souvenir of Western Women.djvu/39

Rh do it. Be brave! My brother shall not die." Then she flitted away to resume the doubly tiresome journey back up the river.

Swift Eagle noticed with pleasure that the girl was less sad. She even smiled when he passed her and he ventured to approach her, as she sat apart, and plead his love. She listened with a far away look in her soft, dreamy eyes, and answered: "Swift Eagle is a mighty chief; he is strong and proud. Wannetta is but a captive maid like a snared bird, but she loves the noble Swift Eagle with a great love. She will be his wife if he will grant one thing." "Swift Eagle is strong to protect his little Wannetta and proud to do what she wills." "'Tis the promise of a mighty chief, and the heart of Wannetta is very glad. Let my brother go to our father's lodge and where Swift Eagle goes, Wannetta will go and will serve him as long as she lives."

The face of the young chieftain did not show displeasure, but a grave wonder. "But I cannot bring back the dead." Then she told him all that she had done with such winning grace that Swift Eagle could not find it in his heart to reprove her, for he was but a man with a loving heart.

Quietly, at dead of night, with the gentle Wannetta by his side, Swift Eagle rowed to Memaloose. Together they wended their way to the tomb, and there found Talax awake and alert, for his trained ear had detected the stealthy approach of footsteps. As silently they rowed back to shore where they had left a full equipment for the long and dangerous journey the boy must prepare to take. Talax clasped his sister in a long, last embrace, then, putting her hand in that of the young chief, he took his gun and disappeared in the shadows of the woods. Wannetta watched him as long as she could discern his figure in the darkness, then turned and followed her lover, though her homesick heart was with the youthful brave speeding toward the lodge of their chieftain father.