CHAPTER VIII.
A CHAT.
It was like approaching a sleeping tiger, likely at any moment to boundto his feet and rend the helpless victim, and Wharton Edwards, despitehis well-proved courage, felt a misgiving as he drew near the terribleShawanoe.
Blazing Arrow in falling held the rifle fast so long as his sensesremained with him; but when he came near splitting the tree trunk withhis head, the weapon flew several feet away. This happened to be theside farthest from Wharton, who, therefore, was forced to walk aroundhim in order to secure the gun.
Everything depended on promptness; and when Wharton found himself withina few paces--too close to retreat--he took several quick leaps, andbending over, snatched up the weapon from where it lay on the ground.
Words cannot picture the relief that came to him when his hands closedabout his beloved rifle, and he knew that, from fleeing in terror beforethe fierce Shawanoe, he was now his master. He could not only defy hiswrath, but Blazing Arrow was at his mercy.
Quickly as all this took place, Wharton was not a second too soon. Atthe moment of stepping back and looking at the Shawanoe, the latterbegan rallying from the shock that had held him senseless for a brieferperiod than seemed to be the case. Doubtless he suffered a good deal ofpain from the accident, but he was too stoical to show it. He moveduneasily, muttered something in his own tongue, and then came to asitting posture with such suddenness that the startled youth recoiledseveral paces and grasped the weapon more firmly than before.
The painted face was like that of a demon, as the Indian, fullyunderstanding what had taken place, sat for a few seconds glaring at theyouth, ten feet away, unable to speak, perhaps because of hisoverflowing wrath, but emitting a serpent-like hissing between histeeth, as if in warning of the blow he was about to strike.
The law of the frontier would have justified young Edwards in sending abullet through the one that had sought his life. Perhaps few would havecondemned him if he had fired when Blazing Arrow's face assumed theexpression of hatred which is beyond description; but the lad, despitehis training, could never have condoned such an act, now that his lifewas in no danger.
Recalling that the Shawanoe spoke English tolerably well, Wharton,holding his rifle ready for instant use, addressed him:
"Are you much hurt, Blazing Arrow?"
"Yes--much hurt--can't walk--can't stand."
Had the wily red man been less prompt with his reply he might havedeceived the youth. The latter could feel no pity for him, even thoughhe knew he was suffering, but there was an eagerness in his manner whichconvinced Wharton that he was shamming, and was not injured to such anextent as to be unable to help himself.
Blazing Arrow spoilt everything by adding, before the other could makeresponse:
"Help Shawanoe up--maybe he den walk," and he reached out his handtoward the boy.
"I rather guess not," replied Wharton, with a faint smile and a meaningshake of his head; "if you can't rise to your feet you can stay there,for all I care."
"Help little bit," persisted the Shawanoe, making what seemed to be afutile effort, and sinking back with one hand still extended, as thoughhe were a child.
"No, sir," replied the youth more emphatically, "I wouldn't trust you,Shawanoe."
"No speak lie--Blazing Arrow no double tongue."
"You have always had a double tongue; you have always spoken lies. Wasit not you who tried to kill me when we were about to run a race?"
"Shawanoe drink fire-water--didn't know nuffin'."
"You knew enough to run off in the woods before my friends could punishyou. Why have you chased me so far to-day?"
"Want to catch you," replied the warrior frankly, evidently perceivingthat this was an occasion in which truth would serve better thanfalsehood.
"What hindered you from catching me?"
"Brudder run faster dan Shawanoe."
"Did you run as fast as you could?"
"Yes--run hard--run like thunder--brudder much run--beat deer--beatantelope."
"Then I can beat you?" asked Wharton with a meaning look at the subtlemiscreant, who nodded his head with great vigor as he made reply:
"Yes--beat Shawanoe--run faster--much more run."
If Blazing Arrow hoped by "acknowledging the corn" in this fashion towin the confidence of the youth he was mistaken. He could afford to ownup when the only one that heard him was his conqueror. Little fear ofhis ever making the confession to his own people.
"That's the first truth you have told in a long time. What would youhave done to me if you had outrun and captured me?"
"Take back to Shawanoes."
"And what then?"
"Run race wid me."
"Suppose I had beaten you?"
"Den get away--like do now. No hurt brudder."
Wharton little doubted that such a chase would have been arranged, withthe difference that no possible escape would have been left for him.
"If I had outrun you would I have been allowed to go free?"
"Yes--dat so--ugh!--yes."
"Well, being that I have just outrun you, I will keep a good distancebetween you and me."
And thereupon Wharton turned about and began walking along the ravinetoward the point whence he came. As he did so he partly turned his head,so as to keep the wretch in his field of vision; he knew better than totrust him, even to the smallest degree. He half expected to see him leapto his feet and dash after him, but the wily warrior remained seateduntil the intervening trees shut him from sight. Wharton hurried alongthe ravine, and curved again and came back before he struck a placewhich permitted him to climb out. He did so, however, with littledifficulty, and, reaching the path once more, began retracing his stepsto the clearing, across which he had run with such great speed.
This brought him to the spot where Blazing Arrow had met with hismishap. Stealing carefully forward, Wharton peered over. To hisastonishment the Shawanoe was not in sight; he had disappeared asutterly as though he had never been. At the same moment the youth madeanother and more astounding discovery.