The Daughter of the Chieftain | Page 4

comment. "What is the
use of your trying? You couldn't learn to play Jack Stones in ever so
long."
She was about to try him again, when, childlike, she darted off upon a
widely different subject, for it had just come into her little head.
"Omas, when you were here the other day, you promised that the next
time you came to see me you would bring Linna."

"Dat so--Omas promise."
"Then why haven't you done as you said?"
"Omas never speak with double tongue; he bring Linna with him."
"You did?--where is she?" asked Alice, springing to her feet, clasping
her hands, and looking expectantly around.
The Delaware emitted a shrill, tremulous whistle, and immediately
from the wood several rods behind them came running the oddest
looking little girl anyone could have met in a long time.
Her face was as round as that of Alice, her long, black hair hung
loosely over her shoulders, her small eyes were as black as jet, her nose
a pug, her teeth as white and regular as were ever seen, while her dress
was a rude imitation of her father's except the skirt came below her
knees. Her feet were as small as a doll's, and encased in the beaded
little moccasins, were as pretty as they could be.
"That is Linna," said the proud father as she came obediently forward.
CHAPTER TWO
: DANGER IN THE AIR
Little Linna, daughter of Omas, the Delaware warrior, was of the same
age as Alice Ripley. The weather was warm although she wore tiny
moccasins to protect her feet, she scorned the superfluous stockings and
undergarments that formed a part of the other's apparel.
Her hair was as black, abundant, and almost as long as her father's; but
her face was clean, and, perhaps in honor of the occasion, she, too,
sported a gaudy eagle feather in her hair.
She bounded out of the green wood like a fawn, but as she drew near
her parent and Alice, her footsteps became slower, and she halted a few
paces away, hung her head, with her forefinger between her pretty

white teeth--for all the world like any white girl of her years.
But Alice did not allow her to remain embarrassed. She had been
begging for this visit, and now, when she saw her friend, she ran
forward, took her little plump hand and said--"Linna, I am real glad you
have come!"
Omas had risen to his feet, and watched the girls with an affection and
interest which found no expression on his painted face. His child
looked timidly up to him and walked slowly forward, her hand clasped
in that of Alice. She did not speak, but when her escort sat down on the
grass, she did the same.
"Linna, do you know how to play Jack Stones?" asked Alice, picking
up the pebbles.
Linna shook her head quickly several times, but her lips remained
mute.
"Your father thought he knew how, but he don't; he doesn't play fair,
either. Let me show you, so you can beat him when you go home."
Alice set to work, while the bright black eyes watched every
movement.
"Now do you want to try it?" she asked, after going through the game
several times.
Linna nodded her head with the same birdlike quickness, and reached
out her chubby hand.
Her father and Alice watched her closely. She made several failures at
first, all of which were patiently explained by her tutor; by and by she
went through the performance from beginning to end without a break.
Alice clapped her hands with delight, and Omas--certain that no
grownup person saw him--smiled with pleasure.
"Doesn't she know how to talk?" asked Alice, looking up at the warrior.

Omas spoke somewhat sharply to his child in the Delaware tongue. She
startled, and looking at Alice, asked--
"Do--yoo think me play well?"
Alice was delighted to find she could make herself understood so easily.
It was wonderful how she had learned to speak English so early in life.
"I guess you can," was the ready reply of Alice; "your father can't begin
to play as well. When you go home you can show your mamma how to
play Jack Stones. Have you any brothers and sisters?"
"No; me have no brother--no sister."
"That's too bad! I've got a big brother Ben. He isn't home now, but he
will be here to supper. He's a nice boy, and you will like him. Let's go
in the house now to see mamma, and you can teach me how to talk
Indian."
Both girls bounded to their feet, and hand in hand, walked to the door,
with Omas gravely stalking after them.
Mrs. Ripley had learned of the visitor, and stood on the threshold to
welcome her. She