I only came here to bring comfort to this poor girl." "No doubt she needs it," he replied drily, "and your way is surely a good one.

Yet I doubt if Little Sauk would approve it, and as his friend, I must speak for him in the matter.

Do you say you are also a prisoner?
To what chief ?" "To none," I answered shortly, resolved now to venture all in a trial of strength.

He read this decision in my eyes, and stepped back warily.

At the same instant Toinette flung her arms restrainingly about my neck.
"Don't, John!" she urged, using my name thus for the first time; "the savage has a gun hidden beneath his robe!" I saw the weapon as she spoke, and saw too the angry glint in the fellow's eye as he thrust the muzzle menacingly forward.