In the Rocky Mountains | Page 6

prided herself on her ointment, quickly produced a jar of it,
and assisted Bartle in dressing the Indian's wound. She then gave him a
cooling mixture which she had concocted.
The Indian expressed his gratitude in a few words, and again covering
himself up with a buffalo robe, was soon asleep.
The next morning he was better, but still unable to move.
He remained with us ten days, during which Clarice and Rachel
watched over him with the greatest care, making him all sorts of dainty
dishes which they thought he would like; and in that time he and Uncle
Jeff managed to understand each other pretty well.
The Indian, according to the reticent habits of his people, was not
inclined to be very communicative at first as to how he had received his
wound; but as his confidence increased he owned that he had, with a
party of his braves, made an excursion to the southward to attack their
old enemies the Arrapahas, but that he and his followers had been
overwhelmed by greatly superior numbers. His people had been cut off
to a man, and himself badly wounded. He had managed, however, to
make his escape to the mountains without being observed by his foes.
As he knew that they were on the watch for him, he was afraid of
returning to the plains, and had kept on the higher ground, where he
had suffered greatly from hunger and thirst, until he had at length fallen
in with Clarice at the spring.
At last he was able to move about; and his wound having completely
healed, he expressed his wish to return to his people.

"Winnemak will ever be grateful for the kindness shown him by the
Palefaces," he said, as he was wishing us good-bye. "A time may come
when he may be able to show what he feels; he is one who never
forgets his friends, although he may be far away from them."
"We shall be happy to see you whenever you come this way," said
Uncle Jeff; "but as for doing us any good, why, we do not exactly
expect that. We took care of you, as we should take care of any one
who happened to be in distress and wanted assistance, whether a
Paleface or a Redskin."
Winnemak now went round among us, shaking each person by the hand.
When he came to Clarice he stopped, and spoke to her for some time,--
although, of course, she could not understand a word he said.
Uncle Jeff, who was near, made out that he was telling her he had a
daughter of her age, and that he should very much like to make them
known to each other. "My child is called Maysotta, the `White Lily;'
though, when she sees you, she will say that that name ought to be
yours," he added.
Clarice asked Uncle Jeff to tell Winnemak that she should be very glad
to become acquainted with Maysotta whenever he could bring her to
the farm.
Uncle Jeff was so pleased with the Indian, that he made him a present
of a rifle and a stock of ammunition; telling him that he was sure he
would ever be ready to use it in the service of his friends.
Winnemak's gratitude knew no bounds, and he expressed himself far
more warmly than Indians are accustomed to do. Then bidding us
farewell, he took his way to the north-east.
"I know these Indians pretty well," observed Bartle, as Winnemak
disappeared in the distance. "We may see his face again when he wants
powder and shot, but he will not trouble himself to come back until
then."

We had begun to fancy that Bartle was right, for many months went by
and we saw nothing of our Indian friend. Our surprise, therefore, was
great, when he made his appearance in the manner I have described in
an earlier portion of the chapter.
CHAPTER TWO.
WINNEMAK WARNS US OF THE APPROACH OF
INDIANS--BARTLE GOES OUT TO SCOUT-- NO SIGNS OF A
FOE--I TAKE THE LIEUTENANT TO VISIT "ROARING
WATER"-- BARTLE REPORTS THAT THE ENEMY HAVE
TURNED BACK--THE LIEUTENANT DELAYED BY THE
SERGEANT'S ILLNESS--THE VISIT TO THE HUT--A TIPSY
TROOPER--KLITZ AND GILLOOLY MISSING--THE
LIEUTENANT BECOMES WORSE--SEARCH FOR THE MISSING
MEN--I OFFER TO ACT AS GUIDE TO THE
LIEUTENANT--BARTLE UNDERTAKES TO FIND OUT WHAT
HAS BECOME OF KLITZ AND BARNEY.
"Glad to see you, friend!" said Uncle Jeff, getting up and taking the
Indian by the hand. "What brings you here?"
"To prove that Winnemak has not forgotten the kindness shown him by
the Palefaces," was the answer. "He has come to warn his friends, who
sleep in security, that their enemies are on the war-path, and will ere
long attempt to take their scalps."
"They had better