CHAPTER XV.
PARTINGS AND MEETINGS.
Gaspar's courage returned, and he led her to a sheltered place underthe stockade, where he made her sit beside him for the brief time thatwas his.
"Not all because I do not like it; but because I am almost a man and Ihave found the chance of my life. There is one here, a _voyageur_,with his boat. The finest vessel I ever saw, though they've not beenso many. He is going north into the great woods; will sail thismorning. He is a great trader and hunter and he has asked me toapprentice myself to him. He promises he will make my fortune. He hastaken as great a liking to me, I reckon, as I have to him. We shallget on famously together. In that broad, free life I shall grow a fullman, and soon. I can earn money, and make a home for you andWahneenah, and many another lonely, helpless soul. Yes, I must go. Ican't let the chance pass. And you must be brave, and the Sun Maidstill, and forever. I shall want to think of you as always bright andfull of laughter. Like yourself. But you are not like yourself now,Girl-Child. Why don't you speak? Why don't you say something?"
"I guess there isn't any 'say' left in me, Gaspar," answered the girl,in a tone so hopelessly sad that it almost made the lad waver in hisdetermination. Only that wavering had no portion in the character ofthe ambitious youth, and he looked far forward toward a great goodbeyond the present pain.
When the day was well advanced, the schooner sailed away, from thedock at the foot of the path from fort to lake, with Gaspar upon herdeck, trying to look more brave and manly than he really felt. But aforlorn little maid watched with eyes that shed no tears, and apitiful attempt at a smile upon her quivering lips till the vesselbecame a mere speck, then disappeared.
After a long while, she was aroused by something again moving over thewater.
"He's coming back! My Gaspar's coming back!" she cried, and tossedback the hair which the wind blew about her face that she might seethe clearer. A moment later her disappointment found words: "It'snothing but a common Indian canoe!"
However, she remembered her foster-brother had set her a task to do.She must begin it right away. She was to be as helpful to everybodyshe ever should meet as it was possible. Here might be one coming whohadn't heard about that dreadful fifty-dollar prize money. She mustcall out and warn him. So she did, and never had human voice soundedpleasanter to any wayfarer. But her own intentness discoveredsomething familiar in the appearance of the young brave, paddling socautiously toward her and keeping so well to the shore. She began toquestion herself where she had seen him, and in a flash sheremembered. Then, indeed, did she shout, and joyfully:
"Osceolo! Osceolo! Don't you know me? Kitty? The Sun Maid? Thedaughter of your own tribe? Osceolo!"
"By the moccasins of my grandfather! You here? How? When? No matter.The brother of the Sun Maid rejoices. Never a friend so convenient.Run around to the edge of the wharf. There must be talk between us,and at once."
He pushed his little boat close under the shadow of the pier that hadlong since been deserted of those who had come down to watch, as Kittyhad done, the sailing of the northern-bound schooner. There was noneto hear them, yet Osceolo chose to muffle his tones and to makehimself mysterious. In truth, he was fleeing from justice, having beenmixed up in a raid upon a settler's homestead a few miles back; inwhich, fortunately, there had been no bloodshed, though a deal ofthieving and other dirty work which would make it uncomfortable forthe young warrior should he be caught just then. The story he wasprepared to tell was true as far as it went; and the Sun Maid was tooinnocent to suspect guile in others. She thought he was referring tothe prize money when he spoke of quite other matters; and after thebriefest inquiry and answer as to what had befallen either since theirparting at doomed Muck-otey-pokee, he concluded:
"Now, Sister-Of-My-Heart, Blood-Daughter-Of-My-Chief, you must helpme. You must give me, or lend me, a horse; and you must bring me food.Then I will ride to fetch you back Wahneenah."
"Oh! You know where she is? Can you do it and not be taken?"
"Is not the Brother of the Sun Maid now become a mighty warrior?"
"You--you don't look so very mighty," returned the girl, truthfully.
Osceolo frowned. "That is as one sees. Fetch me the horse and themeat, if you would have your Other Mother restored."
"I will. I will!" she cried, and ran back to the Fort. She went firstto the kitchen, and begged a meal "for a stranger that's just come,"and the food was given her without question. Strangers were alwayscoming to be fed; herself, also, no longer ago than the last evening.
From the kitchen to the stables, where a bright thought came to her.She would lead the Tempest to Osceolo, and herself ride the Snowbird.Together they would go to find Wahneenah.
"The black gelding?" asked the soldier of whom she sought assistance."The hostler can maybe tell you. But I think the Black Partridge rodeaway on him before daybreak."
"The Black Partridge! Oh! I had forgotten him in my trouble aboutGaspar. Did any harm come to him, sir?"
"No. What harm should? If every red-skin in Illinois was like himthere'd be little need of us fellows out here in this mud-hole. Butyou look disappointed. If you want to take a ride, there's the whitemare you came on. But you'd better not go far away. It isn't safe fora child like you."
"I'm not afraid, but--Well, if Tempest's gone, I can't. That's all."
So the Snowbird was brought out, and she led the pretty creature awaybehind the shelter of the few trees which hid the spot where Osceolohad bade her meet him.
"I tried to get Tempest for you, but the Chief has ridden him away. Imeant to go with you. But you'll have to go alone. Tell my darlingOther Mother that I am here, and waiting. Tell her about Gaspar, andthat he said he had found out she would be quite safe here. Why, so, Isuppose, would you. I didn't think."
"No, I shouldn't," returned the young Indian hastily. Then, noting hersurprise, explained:
"I'm a warrior, you see. That makes a difference."
"It will be all right, though, I think. And if you cannot come backwith Wahneenah, do hurry and send her by herself. Will you?"
"Oh, I'll hurry!" answered the youth, evasively, and leaped to theSnowbird's back. The food he had stuffed within his shirt till a moreconvenient season, and with a cry that even to Kitty's trusting earssounded in some way derisive, he was off out of sight along thelakeside.
As the Snowbird disappeared, Kitty felt that the last link betweenherself and her friends had been severed, and for a moment the tearshad sway. Then, ashamed of her own weakness and remembering herpromise to Gaspar that she would be "just the sunniest kind of a girl,and true to her name," she brushed them away and entered the busyFort, to proffer her services to the women in charge.
These had already learned her story and had reprimanded her forrunning away from her protectors, the Smiths; but it was nobody'sbusiness to return her and, meanwhile, she was safe at the Fort untilthey should choose to call for her.
"Well, there is always plenty of work in the world for the hands thatwill do it," said an officer's wife, with a kindly smile. "You seemtoo small to be of much practical use; but, however, if you want atask, there are some little fellows yonder who need amusing andcomforting. Their mother has died of a fever, and their father is moreof a student and preacher than a nurse. I guess his wife was theruling spirit in the household, and now that she has left him, he issadly unsettled. He doesn't know whether to go on and take up theclaim he expected or not. He and you, and the oddly-named little sons,may all yet have to become wards of the Government."
"I'm very sorry for him."
"You well may be. Yet he's a gentle, blessed old man. No more fit tomarry and bring that flock of youngsters out here into the wildernessthan I am to command an army. She was much younger than he, and feltthe necessity of doing something toward providing for their childrenand educating them. But the more I talk, the more I puzzle you. Runalong and lend them a hand. The very smallest Littlejohn of the lothas filled his mouth with dirt, and is trying to squall it out. See i
fa drink of water won't mend matters."
Kitty hastened to the child, and begged;
"My dear, don't cry like that. You are disturbing the people."
"Don't care. I ain't my dear; I'm Four."
"You're what?"
"Just Four. Four Littlejohns. What pretty hair you've got. May I pullit?"
"I'd rather not. Unless it will make you forget the dirt you ate."
But the permission given, the child became indifferent to it. Hepointed to three other lads crouching against the door-step, andexplained:
"They're One, Two, and Three. My father, he says it saves trouble.Some folks laugh at us. They say it's funny to be named that way. Iwas eating the dirt because I was--I was mad."
"Indeed! At whom?"
"At everybody. I'm just mis'able. I don't care to live no longer."
The round, dimpled face was so exceedingly wholesome and happy,despite its transient dolefulness, that Kitty laughed and hermerriment brought an answering smile to the four dusty countenancesbefore her.
"Wull--wull--I is. My father, he's mis'able, too. So, course, we haveto be. He's a minister man. He can't tell stories. He just tells trueones out the Bible. Can you tell Bible stories?"
"No. I--I'm afraid I don't know much about that book. Mercy had one,but she kept it in the drawer. She took it out on Sundays, though. Shedidn't let Gaspar nor me touch it. She said we might spoil the cover.That was red. It was a reward of merit when she was a girl. It hadclasps, and was very beautiful. It had pictures in it, too, aboutsaints and dead folks; but I never read it. I couldn't read it if Itried, you know, because I've never been taught."
This was amazing to the four book-crammed small Littlejohns. Oneexclaimed, with superior disgust:
"Such a great big girl, and can't read your Bible! You must be aheathen, and bow down to wood and stone."
"Maybe I am. I don't remember bowing down to anything, except when Isay my prayers."
"Your prayers! Then you can't be a real heathen. Heathens don't sayprayers, not our kind. Hmm. What lovely eyes you've got and how prettyyou are! All the women never saw such wonderful hair as yours, nor themen either. I heard them say so. If I had a sister, I'd like her tolook just like you. But it's wicked to be vain."
"What do you mean, you funny boy?"
"I'm not funny. I'm serious. My mother--my mother said--my mother--Oh!I want her! I want her!"
Religion, superiority, priggishness, all flew to the winds as his realand fresh grief overcame him; and it was a heart-broken lad thathurled himself against the shoulder of this sympathetic-looking girlwho, though so much taller, was not so very much older than he.
The Sun Maid's own heart echoed the cry with a keen pain, and shereceived the orphan's outburst with exceeding tenderness. Now,whatever One, the eldest, did the other young numerals all imitated,so that each was soon weeping copiously. Yet, from very excess ofenergy, their grief soon exhausted itself and they regarded each otherwith some curiosity. Then Three began to smile, in a shamefaced sortof way, not knowing how far his recovery of composure would beapproved by sterner One.
After a habit familiar to him the latter opened his lips to reprovebut, fortunately, refrained, as he discovered a tall, stoop-shoulderedman crossing the parade-ground.
This gentleman seemed oddly out of place amid that company ofimmigrants and soldiers. Student and bookworm was written all over hisfine, intellectual countenance, and his eyes had that absentexpression that had made the commandant's wife call him a "dreamer."
His bearing impressed the Sun Maid with reverent awe; a feelingapparently not shared by his sons. For Three ran to him and shook himviolently, to secure attention, as he eagerly exclaimed:
"Oh, father! We've found one of 'em already! A heathen. Or, any way, aheatheny sort of a girl, but not Indian. She doesn't know how to read,and she hasn't any Bible. Come and give her one and teach her quick!"
"Eh? What? A heathen? My child, where?"
"Right there with my brothers. That yellow-headed girl. She's nice.Are all the heathen as pretty as she is?"
"My son, that young person? Surely, you are mistaken. She must be thedaughter of some resident at the Fort, or of some traveller likeourselves."
"I don't believe she is. She's been taking care of herself all day. Ihaven't heard anybody tell her 'Don't' once. If she belonged to folkthey'd do it wouldn't they?"
"Very likely. Parents have to discipline their young. Don't drag meso. I'm walking fast enough."
"That's what I say, father. 'Don't' shows I belong to you. But I dowish you'd come. She might get away before you could catch her."
"Catch her, Three? I don't understand."
"I know it. My mother used to say you never did understand plainevery-day things. That's why she had to take care of you the same asus. Oh! I wish we'd never come to this horrid place."
The reference to his wife and the child's grief roused the clergymanmore completely than even an appeal for the heathen. Laying his thinhand tenderly upon the small rumpled head, he stroked it as heanswered:
"In my flesh I echo that wish, laddie; but in my spirit I am resignedto whatever the Lord sends. If there is a heathen here, there is Hiswork to do, and in that I can forget my own distress. I will walkfaster if you wish."
The other small Littlejohns, with Kitty, now joined their father andThree, the girl regarding him with some curiosity, for he was of astamp quite different from any person she had ever seen. But he wonher instant love as, holding out his hands in welcome, he exclaimed:
"Why, my daughter! Surely the lads were jesting. You look neitherignorant nor heathen, and in personal gifts the Lord has been mostkind to you."
"Has He? But I am rather lonely now."
"And so am I. Therefore, we will be the better friends. Why, sons,this is just what we need to make our group complete. Maybe, lassie,your parents will spare you to us, now and then."
"I have no parents. I am a ward of Government, though I don'tunderstand it. I wish--are you too busy to hear my story, and will youadvise me? Gaspar told me some things, but he's not old and wise likeyou, dear sir."
"Old I am, indeed, but far from wise. Though, so well as I know I willmost gladly counsel you. Let us go yonder, to that shady place besidethe great wall, where there are benches to rest on and quiet to listenin."
Now small Four Littlejohns had heard a deal about heathen. They hadbeen the dearest theme of all the stories told him, and he caught hisfather's hand with a detaining grasp:
"She might eat you all up, father!"
"Boy, what are you saying?"
"She isn't like the picture in my story-book of the heathen that livedin India, and all the people worshipped, that was named a god, Onetold me when I asked him; but I guess heathens can change likefairies; and, please don't go, father, don't!"
"Nonsense, Four. What trash are you talking? It is you who are theheathen now."
"I, father? _I!_"
In horror of a possible change in his person, the child began to feelof his plump face and pinch his fat body. He even imagined he wasstiffening all over. Suddenly, he drew his wide mouth into a grotesqueimitation of the engraving as he remembered it, planting his feetfirmly and setting up a tragic wail.
"I'm not like him. I won't be. I won't, I won't, I won't!"
Kitty understood nothing but the evident distress, which she attemptedto soothe and merely aggravated.
"Get away! Don't you touch me! You go away home and sit on a tablewith your legs all crooked up--so; and stop playing you're a regulargirl. Leave go my father's hand, I say!"
Then One came to the rescue. As soon as he could stop laughing, heexplained the situation to the others, and though the incident seemeda trivial one to the younger people to the good Doctor it was weightywith reproach for the ignorance he had permitted in his own household.It also had its far-reaching results; for it led him to observe theSun Maid critically, and, when he had heard her simple story, to askout of the fulness of his own big heart:
&n
bsp; "Will you come and share our home with us, my daughter? Surely, youhave much good sense and many wonderful gifts. The Lord has thrown usinto one another's company, and I believe you can, in large measure,take their mother's place to these sons of mine. Will you come andlive in our home, dear Sun Maid?"
"Indeed, I will! And love you for letting me!" cried the gratefulgirl, catching the Doctor's hand and kissing it reverently.
But it did not occur to either of these innocents that there was, atthat time, no home existing for them.