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A
S t o ry
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f t h e Bi g h o r n
Co u n t ry
BY
E LI Z A B E TH E G L E S T O N fl I N M A N
-
W ITH
F
.
RAN D
I LL USTR A TI ONS
D E F O RE
ST
S CH O O K
M c N ALLY 6:
CH I CA GO
N E W YO RK
19 1 0
BY
CO M PA NY
LO N DO N
TH E I LL U S TRATI O N S
“
DO U GA L IN I LT S P A N D D I R O T HE
S CO TTI S H H I GHL A N D ER S E NT ERE D T O T HE
G P I PE
U D OF T H E
A S H A DO W
A T H W A R T T HE PA I NT E D W G
Y
T U RN E D TO WAR D
W M A N D A LL
CR Y ST A L S T O N E
W HO ST OO D A W A ITIN G
HER F A T HER S PLE A S U RE
F
T CH I L D RE NT HER E N E LOPE A N D S O W L Y
RE AD T HE LE TT ER
A D AR SIN IST ER F A CE W
PR
D A G I NST
T
P A N E GLO W ER IN G T R W IT H W D
E YE S
WH IT E B U FF A LO L I F T E D HER U P A GA IN T H I S
TI M E IN FRO NT OF M
S
LOO E D D O W N U PO N T HE HO M S W AS
T O LE A E
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NA YA
C H A PT E R I
C h ! S n tch e
d aw a y in b a ty/ b loom
O n th ee s h al l p re ss n o po n d er ous to m b ;
B t o n th y tu rf s h ll r o ses rea r t h ir l e a v e s t h e a r l ie s t f th
ye a r
A d th w i ld c yp re ss w a v e in ten d er g loom
B YRO N —H br w M l dy
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Lon g ago, w h en t h e I n d i an s o f th e N o rth
s ti ll knel t i n c redulous an d s ilen t awe b efo re th e
”
“
fl ash ing fi re s o f the N o rth ern Ligh ts seei ng
the rein the d ancing s p i ri ts o f th ei r s l ai n wa r
rio r s a w h i te m an young an d cou rageous c ame
to l ive i n thei r count ry o f ph antom moun tai n s
an d s weep in g p rai ri es
H e was only a b oy i n fa c t sc ar c el y twenty
summers c rowned h i s yea rs b u t a restless al b ei t
gentle Sp i ri t h ad eve r swep t h im i nto a dventu re s
and en terp rise s wh ich s et h im ap a rt as s ometh ing
sta rtl ing i n the l ittl e E ngl i s h vi ll age whe re he
dwelt
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N AYA
A fte r the thunderbol t of h is determ ined de
p a rtu re i nto th at vast a b ysm o f scalp ing s avages
an d m ani f ol d dange rs A merica the dismaye d
family retu rned to thei r tradition al occup ations
— th e f ath e r to d ream among h is b ooks in th e
din gy ol d l i b rary the ol der b rother merely to
wonder anew at the rashness O f the younge r
wh ile th e p atient loving moth er p lucked the
C anter b u ry b ells an d gol d of O p hi r roses i n the
s ilent O l d ga rden a s sh e h ad done f rom time
immemo ri al
F a r ove r th e se a Will i am D un s mu i r led a
l i fe qui te di ff e rent f rom th e o ne he h ad le f t
G radu ally working h is way to th e no rthwest he
b ecame associ ated wi th one o f th e great f u r
comp anies wh ich in the l ate go s pu rsued an ex
tensive trade i n th at remote an d b eau ti f ul reg ion
S omewh at l ater th e rap i d development o f the
m ining in dustry also greatly a b sor b ed h im an d
W i th th ese two i nterests h e roamed th e trackless
f orest an d f ollowed the great rivers i n the f ree
b reath ing in dependence th at w as the ch ie f ch a r
a cte ri sti c o f h is natu re
O ccas ion ally he took
th e f ascinating voyage down the M issou ri to th e
th riving ci ty o f S t L ou is an d never f o rgot to
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A
S T ORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U N T RY
di s p atc h a p a rt of h i s ab u n d an t revenu e to those
he h ad le f t i n fa r away E ngl and
The l i f e was pe rilo u s fo r i t w as th e l an d o f
th e re s entful B l a c k f oot w h o pe r c eivi ng the
rive r s an d pl ain s fast dim in i s h i ng i n h i s ch ief
s us ten ance tu rned a defensive h an d agai n s t
eve ry i nva s ion o f th e wh i te m an O fte n h a d
D unsmu i r been ro b be d often h ad h e e sc a p ed
wi th h is l i fe alone bu t fi nally th rou g h a s i ngu
l a r h appenin g he came to thei r fi re s i de an d w as
hono red wi th th e p i pe of p eace an d f riendsh i p
O n the ou ts ki rts o f th e va s t region wh ic h
t h e B l ack f eet h el d i n s up reme an d suc c ess fu l
defi ance o f all othe r I ndi a n tribes l ived thei r
b i tte r enem ie s th e C row s wi th w h om they con
ferocious w ar
I n a c h ance
st an tl y wage d
encoun te r o f tw o h unting p a rtie s the B l ackfeet
were pushed to extrem i tie s and i n th e con fus ion
o f a pell mel l r etreat bei ng pu r s ued the wh i le
by thei r t riumph ant vi c to r s they d i d no t noti ce
th at th e beloved young wa rrio r Wun ne s tou
the son o f thei r mos t powe rfu l ch ief wa s not
among th em Wil d an d mou rn ful we re the l a
men tations w h ich echoed among th e c l i ff s when
thei r los s w as di s co v e re d
Th W hi te B ff a l o
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NAYA
A fte r a brief co u ncil i n th e Painted Wi gwam
o f the agon ized b ut stoic f ather Pe e toh pe e k i ssf
o rders we re given th at a runner m ake s wi f tly
th rough th e vi llage commanding the b raves to
attend thei r ch ie f i n the recovery whethe r dead
o r al ive o f the young an d royal Wu n nes tou
O ver the tim b ered ri dges ca rpeted with
needles o f p ine down th rough the rocky gl ade s
wi th thei r silve ry s treams o f tum b l ing wate r
swep t th e in f u ri ated s avages go rgeous i n w a r
p aint an d splendi d trapp ings A f ter m any hou r s
they entered a ti ny val ley wh ich the ench anted
b rush o f S p ring h ad p ainted i n undul ating f olds
o f green a ra b esqued with myri ads o f b ri ght wil d
flowe rs J ust op posite at the edge o f the i nter
ru pte d f o res t ap peared a sol ita ry ho r s e bearing
an inert b ronze fi gu re devoi d b oth o f tomah awk
an d sh iel d an d whose once super b c re s t o f eagle
feathers now d I O O pCd b roken an d f o rmless B y
h is si de walked Will iam Dunsmu i r putting ou t
an occasion al s teadyi ng h an d o r giving an e n
cou rag i ng wo rd to th e wounded b u t val i ant I n
di an b oy who on seeing the advanci ng b an d
o f th e B l ack f oot wa rrio rs headed b y h is m ag ni fi
cent f athe r stra i ghtened h im s el f p rou dly an d
Th E gl e Ribs
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A S T O RY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U N T RY
l aying one h an d o n th e s hou l de r o f h i s wh i te
f rien d an d s avio r l i fte d th e oth e r i n s ilent s al u
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tati o n
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Pe e toh pe e k i ss r o d e s t r ai g ht to h i s s ide an d ,
withou t attem p ti ng to c onceal h is j oy too k
h is son i n h i s a rm s an d k i s sed the s mooth b rown
ch e ck wi th the so f t noi s ele ss ca res s o f the I nd i an
Th e ch a ra c teri s tical ly b ri ef exp l an ation s re
vealed th at an a rrow woun d h a d u nho r s e d th e
boy i n a p atch o f Ch ap a r ral whe re h e h ad m an
aged to conceal h imsel f u nti l the l a s t faint w h oo p
o f th e p u rsu i ng enemy h a d floate d to h im o ve r
th e h i ll s Then real i z i ng the certain ty o f t h ei r
retu rn he en d eavo re d to escap e an d h a d p ain
fully c rep t to a s p ri ng a h al f m il e d own th e
cafi o n wh ere th e k in d wh i te b roth e r fo u n d h im
T h e k in d b rothe r e x am ine d the wo u n d e d
s ho u l de r H e p u t h i s ow n mo u th to th e tea r
thu s extra c tin g the poi s on H e h i d h im i n th e
b rush an d gave h im food B eing revive d h e
h ad asked to retu rn to th e P ai nted Wi gwam o f
h is father whe re a council m igh t pon d e r a s u it
a b le rewa rd T h e kin d w h i te b rothe r h a d given
h is ho rse an d as s i s tance
The th ron g of attentive wa rrio r s no dd ed an d
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NAYA
grunted thei r app roval wh ile the stately ch ief
touched Will iam s h and a custom he h ad once
o b served at the F u r C omp any s station , and s ai d ,
”
The white b rother must come
Will iam b eing greatly pleased to gain the
f riendsh ip o f his old enemies mounted h is horse
and ri ding b y the si de o f Pe e toh pe e ki ss headed
the swarthy army toward its distant vill age
W hile the rescued b oy l ay on a stretcher o f
b u ff alo skins and sap lings carried b y f ou r of
h is devoted b rothers
A f ter th ree days o f game s an d f easting an d
general rejoicing the dignified council called
thei r new f riend to the Painted Wi gwam an d
asked that h e choose a gi f t either o f ponies o r
ro b es o r weapons o f the chase H is reque s t b oth
angered and amazed them
I t seems the b reak o f morning succeeding hi s
a rrival among them f oun d h im exploring the
b anks o f the mount ain l ake whose many f acile
advantages h ad d rawn the encampment to its
shores L eaving the yet qu iet vill age f ar b eh ind
he th readed the j agged b oul ders and dark p ines
which b anded with som b er green th is portion o f
the pl aci d waters J ust b eyond a tangle o f wil d
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A S T ORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U N T RY
c u rrant wh o s e m a s ses o f yellow b loom filled the
ai r wi th b racing s weetne ss h e stood gaz in g wi th
deligh t at the s treame r s o f b ri ll ian t c rim s on wi th
wh ich the rising su n w as glo ri f yi ng the wo rl d
H e di d not notice an I n di an gi rl clo s e b y
w h o wi th a rms full o f the p ale flowe rs was
step pi ng i nto th e canoe o f b i rch she h ad s ecu re d
by a slen de r thong o f dee r ski n to an ove rh an g
i ng alde r S h e equ ally u nconscious d ro pped
to he r knee s an d wh i le relea s in g the moo red
c ra f t b egan s i ngin g th e exqu is ite musi c ch a r
a cte ri sti c o f he r race
A t the fi rs t note Wi ll i am
tu rned i n b reathles s won de r an d coul d neithe r
move no r Speak f o r the s cene so ri ch i n s im ple
poeti c beauty moved h im a s no oth e r h e h ad
eve r viewed H i s i ntense gaze d rew the m ai d
e n s eye s
w h ose s ta rtled exp re s s ion w as i m
mediately f ollowed b y o ne o f s hy f rien dli ne s s
Paddling close to the rock on wh ich he s tood
she looked u p f rom the flower l aden canoe i n
wh i ch s h e knel t h e r bl ack b rai ds vivi d against
“
the yellow an d sai d ea rnestly I am E e h ni s
kim
My b rot h er i t w as whom thou d i ds t s ave
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I th an k thee
H e coul d not answe r so great w as h is i nne r
Th C rys ta l S to ne
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NAYA
a gitation but he caught her look and hel d i t u n
til the dark l ashes swep t downwa rd Then tu rn
i ng she p addled swi f tly ac ross the l ake which
l ay l ike a sh immering del icate hued p rim rose
in its f ringe o f green Th at w as all H is con
stant watch f ulne s s h ad not given h im anothe r
gl impse o f he r
S o when th e ch ie f pu t h is question to Wil
l iam he received the clea rly spoken answer I
”
wish to w e d you r daughter E e h n i sk i m
Th e
general consternation w as finally ove rcome b y
the young m an s decis ive an d eloquent allus ion
to the service he h ad rendered the B l ack f oot na
tion i n resto ring i ts h eredita ry ch ie f and to the
p romise o f the hono ra b le Pe e toh pe e k i ss to ac
co rd anyth ing he m igh t ask as reward Th e
chie f reluctantly commanded that the mai den b e
b rough t b e f ore the council
A f ter many m inu tes o f deathl ike s ilence a
shadow f ell athwart the Painted Wi gwam an d
all eyes tu rne d to The C rystal S tone w h o stood
awaiting he r f ather s pleasu re H er pu rple
b lack h ai r i nte rb rai d e d with strips o f o tter
hung heavy an d lustrous a b ou t the slim shoul ders
almo s t r each ing the edge o f the so f t tunic o f
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8
A S T ORY O F THE B IGHORN C O U N T RY
d oes k in w h i c h fel l i n s traig h t fol d s to th e l ittle
I t s s plen d i d emb ro i de ry of
moccasi ne d feet
rich ly dyed qu ills and f eath e r s wa s edged with
s nowy e rm ine an d a roun d h e r nec k was a stri ng
s cintill ati n g fie ry l igh ts o f
o f i ri descen t s h ell s
b lue an d g reen
I gno ring the g a z e o f t h e s tran ge r who s tood
nea r by s he s lowly advanced to the si d e o f Pee
toh pe e k i ss an d l istened with qu iet attentive eyes
u nti l th e en d Then tu rn ing away wi th c ol d
”
“
dign i ty sh e s ai d Let t h e w h ite m an s pea k
De Spi te th e p re s en c e o f th e s tol i d co u n c il
Wi ll i am c augh t h e r h an d an d s eein g t h e tea r s
i n he r eye s k new t h at h e h a d w on
A fte r th e m a r r i age a cc o rdi n g to B l a c k foot
tra d i tion s h e jo u rneye d wi th h i s b ri de to th e
nea res t wh i te s ettlemen t w h ere i n th e ti ny ch apel
o f hewn log s they knel t to th ei r g reat l ove s fin al
s a c ramen t Then i n j oy an d reve ren c e they s tole
to t h e lovi ng b roodi ng wi n g o f th e fores t an d
to th ei r b ri dal c h o r u s c h ante d by th e v oi c e s o f
m any wate r s
A fte r s eve ral yea rs a d reamy rapt u rous
s p ri ngtime b ro u gh t th em a new b l e ssmg T h ey
were l ivin g on th e s h o re s o f a g reat r i ve r of th e
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N AY A
No rth Wi lliam w as f orced to a bs ent h im s el f
f or a day leaving C rys tal S tone to the h appy
tasks that filled he r simple exi s tence N ot b eing
a b le to retu rn b y night f all as he h ad expected
the fi rst gray of dawn foun d h im anxiously u rg
ing his pony th rough th e clou ds o f mist th at
d ri f ted i n the hollow s A s he was a b out to enter
the W igwam f rom the c re s t of which floated a
th readlike s p i ral o f s moke h i s foots teps were
welcomed b y a joyous l augh and entering he
f oun d C rystal S tone seated on a p ile of skins b y
the fire her f ace ch arged with an eloquent ten
derne s s F all i ng to h i s knees besi de he r he t e
ce i v e d i n h is arms a sol i d little bundle the giv
i ng b eing accomp anied b y a radi ant smile and
“
the words O u r da ug hter Ca ch a tose N aya
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O h wh at a l ittle n ame f o r such a b i g gi rl
s ai d the new f ather smothering one of hi s great
b oyish l aughs
C rys tal S tone l i fted a h appy face in exp l ana
tion
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L ast nigh t w as s h e put in these a rm s The
s tars trem b led gold on th e b l ack river S he i s
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A S T ORY O F TH E
Ca
CO U N T RY
BI GH OR N
c h a to s e N ay atoh ta b u t i f y o u will N aya
”
fo r ea c h d ay s c al l in g
T hu s c ame N aya to the wo r ld
S ome yea rs afte rwa rd th e great h e rd s o f c at
tl e we re d riven f rom the s o u th to th e v as t p l ains
o f Wyom i ng an d Du n s mu i r pe rceivi ng an e x
op p o r tu ni ty to fu rth e r h is fo rtune s
ce l l e nt
bough t o u t a bi g o u tfit wh ich h ad recently been
trai le d f rom Te x as and esta b l ished th e great
C i r c l e A r r ow R an c h on th e Pow d e r R i v e r
E ve ry yea r a fte r th e S p r i n g r o u n d u p h e took
h i s l i ttle family i nto the hea rt o f the B igho rn
M ountain s wh ic h loome d m a ss ive an d i r re gu l a r
a g ains t th e wes te rn Sk y
O n c e w h en for t h e tent h time th e s nowy
sy r inga s h owe red i ts petal s i n N aya s lovely c h i l d
fa c e when the s tream s wi th wil d me rrimen t
s p arkled an d Spl a s he d th rough the s u nny gl ade s
when the wil d c u rrant bent i ts yel low plume s to
th e mysti c pool s o f th e fo rest the A ngel o f S o r
r ow a rre s ted h e r fl igh t an d c a s t the s h adow o f
he r great d a r k wings ove r t h e l an d Wh ile gat h
e ri ng willow s E e h ni sk i m m ade an u n fo rtun ate
Step wh ic h c aving the b ank soaked a nd loosened
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II
N AY A
b y the s p ring rain s caused her to f all to the stony
c reek b ed b elow
A ll n igh t i n b ewil d ere d ang u i s h h e r h u s b an d
s at holding the col d little f o rm The s ilence w as
un b roken save f o r the p ines overh ead a s they
mou rned together o r fo r the steady b reath ing
of the child w h o l ay at hi s knee exh au s ted b y
he r weep ing ove r the great i ncomp rehen s i b le
tragedy Thu s h e remained until the ragge d
peaks f a r a b ove flashed wi th th e s avage Splendors
A wakening N aya he carried
o f a new day s sun
the Silent one up ou t of the gloom p a s t the d ri f t s
o f s yringa p ale an d ghostl ike in the cafi on s
gray l ight ; u p beyon d the e c ho o f t h e water
f all s morning song ; on an d u p u ntil th e timber
l ay b eh in d and noth ing remained bu t t h e
soaring p innacle s of granite stret c hing s nowy
a rms to the dazzl ing heaven s They c ame to a
mi ni atu re pl ateau wh ich sp rea d before them l ike
a flow e r enameled mos aic su ff u s ed with s un
sh ine an d there he gently l ai d hi s p recious
b u rden
M any time s he retraced h is s teps
b ringing great arm f ul s of Sp ring s f ai rylan d
f rom the slopes an d c a non s below
Then they left her to her eternal Sleep
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A S T ORY O F TH E
BI GH OR N
C O U N T RY
E ve ry yea r at th e tim e o f flowe rs th ey re
tu rned an d eve ry ni gh t an d eve ry mo rn in g N aya
tu rned he r f ace towa rd th e d i s tan t s enti nels p ray
ing to the G reat S p i ri t th at th e so rrow wh ich
l ay at th ei r feet m ight even tu al ly be l i fted
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I3
C H A PT E R I I
Wa n d er i ng e v er i n
th e
d a nce o f her o w n s w ee t r a d i a nce
G ORGE M CDON A LD—
Th W d
A
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O n Sh e sped i n he r great wreath o f clou d
shadow th rough tawny b u ff alo grass an d gorge
ous cacti b loom thei r gol den b eau ty le f t f ar be
h in d to d ream lu x u riously on the su n steeped
pl ain ; on wi th flyi ng feet and flying b rai ds p a s t
gently b illowing tum b leweeds and wh ite p rick
l y pop p ies tremulous and d roop ing in the heat ;
—
o n u p the l ittle Slope to the b ed of wi l d sweet
on
pea s darkling and b endi ng i n the wind whe re
b reath su ddenly f ailed and a l augh ing ga s p ing
heap o f b rown fell headlong into the m as s of pu r
ple flowers A gay impotent l ittle h and caugh t
at the passing Shadow b u t i t floated on b lack an d
silent as a raven s wing an d left her to the d azzle
o f the sunsh ine
F inally b reath retu rned an d a s sh e opened
her eye s he r whole b eing d reamed away f rom
the mood wh ich h ad c h allenged the mad race o f
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14
woul d never do to let S ally monopoli z e all the
new and there f o re del ight f ul experience s S he
s elected the tip o f a dus ty leaf and pl aced i t gi n
e
r
l
n
o
her
tongue
A
s
she
wa
s
wrinkl
ing
he
r
g
y
nose in disgust ove r the b itte r ta s te s he heard a
dull on rushing sound th at b rough t he r quickly
to he r feet There across th e s l ightly roll ing
h ills came a b and of young horses frivolously
tossing thei r heads an d kicking u p th ei r heels
as i f qu i te obl ivious o f the ul timate s o b e r dutie s
N ay a
o f plough an d range th at awai te d them
fea rlessly s tood he r ground waving he r b oquet
“
j oyou s ly an d cal ling in an eager voice Pigeon !
”
Pigeon l N 0 voice coul d h ave ca rried a b ove the
roa r o f poun ding hoo f s b u t as the flyi ng b an d
p assed j ust b elow he r a l i ttle b lue roan p into
c augh t s ight o f the f am il iar b rown figu re an d
hesi tated halted fin ally b egan to cl im b the
slope followed b y her reluctant ch il d , a tiny long
lim b ed s orrel wh ich o b ediently fol lowed h is
mother i n sp i te o f a tu rning o f head an d a p l ain
tive wh inny a f ter the merry now fa s t r eceding
th rong o f pl ay f ellow s
”
O h ! Pi dgy Pi dgy the l ittle gi rl lovingly
cooed tangli ng her h ands in the heavy mane and
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I6
A S T ORY O F THE B IGHORN C O U N T RY
ru bbing he r no s e agai n s t th e s il k y ne c k l ike an
ove rj oyed pony del ive red f rom s ol ita ry confi ne
m ent Why a re yo u ru n away so o f ten ? I t i s
fo reve r the n igh t wi th you an d fathe r b oth gone
”
Ye s h ere i s anoth e r nu b bin
T he re c i pi ent o f these ten d e r no s e r u bbing s
an d im p as s ione d l i ttl e wh ispe ri n gs h a d been
s tan d ing wi t h d roop in g head an d h al f c lose d
eye s h e r Wh ole atti tu d e a rel axation to the
mu n c h i ng o f th e c o rn h e r mi s tre s s h ad p rovi d ed
Th i s d i s p at c hed c ob an d al l P i geon awo k e to
f u rthe r po ss ib il itie s an d be g an to no s e th e bul g
in g p oc k et wh i c h to h e r w as a neve r fai li ng
h o rn of plen ty
”
“
H ere hung ry d a r l i ng conti n u e d t h e foo l
“
i s h l i ttle tal k O ne w e e b i t i s l eft an d t h e lu m p
”
of s uga r fo r B aby K ickapoo
H e by the way h a d foun d h is mot h e r s tem
o
r
r
a
tranq
u
il
l
i
ty
a
mo
re
t
h
an
s
oul
fil
l
in
g
m
co
p
y
e
n
a
t
i
o
n
o
r
s
f
th
e
w
ren
c
h
f
rom
h
i
s
i
niti
ato
ry
c
ap
p
er s i n t h e s o c i al wor l d o f Pow d e r R ive r an d wa s
now q u i te r avi s h e d wi t h th e i d ea o f s ug a r fo r
d e ss e rt
“
”
N o no b a d c h i ld
s ai d N aya s eve rely
ba c ki ng a few s tep s f rom h i s you th ful impo rtu n
“
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7
,
N AY A
“
ities
S o b ad m anne rs is snatch ing Now
shake h ands
Th is l ast w as in a coaxing tone
so f amili a r to the c ol t th at he graciously b egan
to p aw the ai r
S he caugh t at th e tiny b l ack hoof
an d whi le he go bb led the coveted p rize quietly
sl ipped a short l ength o f rope f rom the v ol
u m i nou s pocket and conceal i ng i t advan c e d to
the u nsuspecting mothe r
Pigeon h a d vivi d and sometime s agoni zed
memo ries of a wil d m adly j oyou s li f e when
care f ree and unmolested she flew over the p lai ns
l ike a b i rd m aking the p rai rie dogs run chatte r
i ng to th ei r hol es an d the coyotes stan d and gaze
i n sulky S ilence ; when i n summer s heat Sh e
sought the cool shadows o f the ca ti ons an d i n
W inter s snow was f ree to choose a warm shel
te re d cl i ff to p rotect h er f rom the c ruel wh ite
h an d that h ad so often sl ain the reckle ss an d the
tardy
N ow those days we re gone an d e x cept f o r
occasional b u r s ts o f re b ell ion Sh e h a d lea rned to
accept ph ilosoph ic al ly the contemp ti b l e sheds
an d di a b ol ic wi re f ence s U su ally the f u rious
l eap o f sp i ri t th at p receded these ou tb reaks was
quelled by th is b eseeching voice and ca re s sing
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I8
A S T ORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U N TRY
h and b u t i t w as h a rd to give i n to d ay S he h a d
mean t to l inge r only long enough to mu nch he r
mo r s els of corn an d then pu rsue the th i r s ty p il
grim age to the rive r lyi ng h i d d en i n the lowl an ds
to th e eas t H atefu l bon dage ! Sh e gave an i m
e
u
s
p
ring
j
er
k
i
ng
to
th
e
grou
nd
he
r
val
i
an
t
o
s
t
u
p
c ap to r w h o q u i te u n ru fll e d as i f a tumble w as
noth ing to h e r s c rambled u p s til l cl inging to
th e ro p e an d de f tly sl i p pin g a h al f h i tch ove r
Pigeon s no s e l anded wi th a l i ttl e j um p on h e r
now h umble cap tive s b ack O fl th ey wen t at a
great rate plungi ng straigh t i nto th e s h imme ring
se a th a t bi llowed towa rd th e sou th i n an en d le ss
h aze o f bl u e m aki ng the j ack rab b i ts and l i za rds
fly in h y s terical h a s te wh i le th e g rasshop p e r s
were left to thei r m a d h opp i ng wonde ri ng wh at
kin d o f a c yclone i t was th at h a d f righ tened t h em
i nto s uc h violen t fits Ligh t and s wi f t a s an an te
lop e fled the glee fu l Pi geon followed by h e r
frol icsome o ff s p ri ng wh i le N aya lyi ng p rone
with h e r ch e ck agai n s t th e ou t s tretched neck
now an d t h en u tte red wie rd l ittle I nd i an c ries o f
encou ragement F in ally Pi geon recogni zed f a
m il i a r s i gn s w h i c h denoted th e en d of th e r a c e
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I9
N AY A
an d mo d erating her gait s oon p au s ed i n t h e
s u b u r b s o f a f requently vis i ted ci ty
The i nh a b i tants wo re neither cl aw h ammer
coat s no r h ats of th e l ate s t dash nor h igh heele d
—
s l i p per s no r a b und ant sto re h ai r i n f act
Strange to say the house s h ad cu rtain s nei ther
o f l ace no r o f velvet an d i f the re were any sh iny
black han s om s h anging abou t f o r th e pu b l ic
accommodation they certainly were not to b e
Sp ied wi th the n aked eye I n s tead the groun d
was covered with hundred s o f l ittle moun d s
each one rep resenting not only th e po rtal o f
a su b terranean dwell ing b u t also a s o rt o f hou s e
top f rom wh ich the respective owner p roclaimed
h i s right s an d wrongs i n accent s cheer f ul b ut
decisive wh ile h is equally volu b le an d i natte n
tive neigh b ors were b usy wi th thei r own noisy
denunci ations S uch a b a rking an d scol ding as
b u rst f rom th at p rai rie dog town when i t b ehel d
th e i ntru der on th e h illock ! N aya s at a bs o r b ed
i n one o f the many game s wh ich he r lonel iness
“
”
h ad suggested to he r
Why the re s a wedding
sh e though t a s b ecoming ac c ustomed to her still
p resence the p rai rie dogs went a b ou t thei r tasks
an d p a s time s
S u re eno ugh t h e r e on th ei r
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20
A S T ORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
h a u n c he s Stoo d tw o grave a n d si len t citi zens i n
an atti t ud e u nmistakably m atrimon i al an d f rom
th e moun d wh ich they face d h a rangued the con
fi de nt p rea c h e r h i s m anne r d enoti ng th at he
alone o f all h i s s aintly b reth ren k new h ow to
ti e a p rope r knot A n d ove r th e re no t f a r away
tw o p ol i c emen wit h voci f e r ou s rage an d dis
ap p roval relentlessly c h ase d an evi dent outl aw
to th e ve ry th reshol d o f h i s refuge the p a s sage
way o f wh ich they swi f tly blocked wi th ea rth
tam p i ng i t down wi th th ei r noses wh ile th e vic
tim wi th i n ra i s ed h is voi c e i n sh ril l p rotes tation
N ow th i s w as al l ve ry wel l fo r N aya but Pig
e on w as bo red beyon d en d u ran c e
an d to p ass
th e time p r ofitably s he d ropped he r hea d an d
began c rop p ing the gra ss To the amazemen t
of al l c on c e rned h e r ri d e r b eing taken enti rel y
un awa re s m ade a flyin g sl i d e down t h e sl anting
nec k an d l an d e d on th e g rou n d wi th a bum p j ust
m i s si ng a Spi k e d p rickly p ea r N aya s h rie k e d
wi th d el ight w h ile the aston i s he d pop u l ace di s
ap pea re d from th e S ig h t of m an Pi geon i n t h e
p h ilo s op h y o f h e r yea rs mere l y s hoo k h e r h ead
an d ea r s f ree o f th e c umbe rs om e s ki rt s an d
loo k e d a r o u n d i nqu i ri ngly A g rowing ap peti te
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21
,
N AYA
tite had influenced h er to definite pl ans an d
when the to b oggan sl i der h ad taken her f orme r
seat down went th e head agai n and down went
th e h apless ri de r Th is time i t w as not so f unny
f o r as she s truck the g round she heard a s avage
b ellow and saw ap p roach ing wh at w as to he r
the one te rro r o f the ranch the ol d b ul l S u r
p rise O n h e came m aking the d i rt fly and
s h aking h is great head as i f he meant to p ie rce
the ea rth with h is horns and not only toss the
s ilen t ci ty quite over the radi ant J uly sun b u t
also to hu rl the p an ic stricken ch il d a f ter i t S he
Sp rang to h er f eet tugging f rantically at the
rope i n a useless endeavo r to m ake Pi geon l i f t
he r head S he a b an doned th is attemp t an d tried
to get on anyway O f cou rs e the s ho rt cluste r
o f mane le f t to he r grasp Sl i pped f rom trem b l ing
fingers and qu i te losing her b al ance down she
went i n a tear f ul heap u nder the heels o f the
exa s p erating pony The men acing roa r came
nea re r an d neare r To h e r i nde s cri b a b le rel ief
thi s u nhappy moment wa s ble s se d by th e call
o f a chee ry S cotch voice
“
D inn a b e cast doon b ai rnie Y e re sa f e as
”
in y i r ain hoose Th a b eastie weel no h a rm ye
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22
uch a s erie s o f li ttle ki c k s with her soft moc
c asi ne d feet th at i n d i re resen tment th e decei t
f ul pony emitted great cave rnous groans and
s tum b led along as i f sh e were the mo s t a b u s ed
c reatu re in seven kingdoms
M eanwh ile the deserted Dougal wended h is
way toward the co rral and gazing afte r N aya
s ol iloqu ized though tfully
“
S he weel b e s i tti n o n peen s fo r m ai r t h an
f oo r oo rs an eve ry m e e nu t an oo r H e cann a
cum til ni ne w i ou t owe r d ri v i n
Gu d e ne ss
how I m a l u v i n yon l as s ie S he i s s hu re th a
”
l icht 0 t h i s r an c h
s
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,
C H A PT E R I I I
Th e Chi ld
he a r t i s so s tr an g e a l i ttl e thin g
—
m
i
ld
So
so ti mo rously s h y a n d sm a ll
W hen gr o w n u p he a r ts th rob it g oe s sca mpering
Behind th e wa ll n o r d a re s p ee p ou t at a ll
I t i s th e v e rie s t mous e
Th a t hi d e s in a n y hous e
S O Wi ld 3 l i ttl e thin g i s a n y Ch i ld he a rt
-
,
-
,
,
—Th
RILEY
-
.
e
O l d H ome F ol ks
.
th e
T h r ee yea r s h a d p a ss e d s i n c e
d e ath of
C ry s tal S tone F o r the fi r s t time Will i am w as
u n able to s up e ri nten d the Sp r i ng rou n d u p an d
mo reove r a d e p rivation o f i nfin i tely g r ea te r
co nse q u e nce h e an d N aya we re obl ige d to fo rego
th ei r ann u al p i l g rim age o f love E a r l y i n M ay
lea rning o f h i s fat h e r s i llne ss he h ad g one h a s
ti l y to E ngl an d leavin g N aya to th e p rote c tio n
o f th e k in d an d d ep en d able f r ontie r wom an
w h o h ad c ared fo r th e h ou s e h o l d S i n c e th ei r
g reat l o ss Sh e wa s a s pl en d i d s o ul b l e s t wi th
both r efine m en t an d fo rtitu d e t h e l atte r t ra it
s e rvi ng h e r well du ri ng the ye a rs of h a r d s h i p
i n c i d ent to a p i onee r s l i fe
.
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as
N AY A
A s N aya tore into th e hou s e a w h i rlwin d on
p atte ring moccasins H annah s at b y a wi ndow
mendi ng an outrageous tea r i n a d ress s ingul arly
l ike the o ne ado rn ing the newcome r
—
—
H annah quickly whe re m ay b e th e letter
o f my f athe r ?
”
Where is my fath er s letter s ai d H annah
l i f ti ng h er strong wo rn counten ance i n a w e l
coming smile as She co rrected the awkwa rdly
wo rded ph rase
I n the tree top honey dea r Yo u u s u ally
enter th at way and I though t you woul d h ave i t
a l i ttle soone r
The l ast words m igh t as well h ave b een spoken
to a swi f tly winging swallow fo r almost b e
f o re she h ad finished N aya w as th rough the
doo r a roun d the co rner an d u p among the
b ranches o f a great s ilvery cottonwood where
o n the l i ttle ta b le
two le tters were p in ioned
f rom th e dancing b reezes b y a tiny weight o f
opal escent o re O ne wi th b roken seal w as a d
“
dressed to M r Dougal C ameron wh ile the
other which still remained u nopened wa s ad
d ressed to M iss N aya Dunsmu i r C i rcle A rrow
R anch B u ffalo
with a s plendi d s oun d
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26
A STORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
”
“
ing vi a M i le s C ity M on t
i n one co rne r
Wi th a rap i d fl a s h o f grati tu de to th e y oun g
S cot c h f orem an wh o s e kin d h an d h a d le f t h is
l ette r too th e c h i l d rent he r envelo pe an d s lowly
read :
C l i f d ale We s tm o rel and E ngl and
J une 1 z th 1 88
—
D ea r L i ttl e Da u g h te r
A fte r c a re f ul ly re c k
on i ng the day s I fin d th at i f my lette r c at c he s
the sta g e I h ave i n m i nd i t wil l a rrive at th e
ranch ea rly in J uly wh i le i f i t i s compell ed to
wai t ove r u nti l th e f ol lowin g week w e wil l a r
rive a rm i n a rm M y bu t f athe r wi ll be gl ad
to se e h i s ch i l d i e
I h ave s uch h eap s o f th ings
to tel l you abo u t grandmoth e r an d g rand f athe r
he
i
s
m
u
ch
bette
r
an
d
you
r
l
i
ttle
cous
ins
bu
t
(
)
I wil l s ave all fo r one o f ou r eveni ngs
on the rive r po rch A n d I am j u s t
b rimm ing with se c rets Y ou can t gue s s
wh at I h ave f o r you
S ometh ing
nei the r sq u a re no r roun d no r ve ry h igh
no r ve ry wi de no r ve ry th ick no r ve ry th i n T h is
is the way you wil l look when yo u see i t
G oodie b ye a s Dougal s ay s Wo rl ds o f love
f rom
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P a u s ing fo r an in s tant of m ys tified reflection
an d an ecstatic l ittle cape r , sh e tu rned to Dou
gal s wh ich con s i s ted o f b rief i n s truction s fo r a
team to meet h im at B u ff alo on a certai n date
To day l R u s h ing i n sea rch of H ann ah w h o
was now arranging Wi ll iam s room N aya
learned that th e day be f o re O l d T om o n h or s e
b ack h ad taken h i s weekly tri p to B u ff alo for th e
m ail and on a rriving at th at bu s tl ing s tage j unc
tion h ad b een astonished at th e Sight o f he r
father cl im b ing with th e othe r du s t coated p as
He
se nge rs from t h e M iles C i ty O ve rl an d
woul d not wai t fo r the buck b oar d to come from
the ranch b u t afte r a few hou r s delay on account
o f bu s ine ss woul d follow O l d Tom with a l iv
e ry team S o h e woul d a rrive to n i gh t l
The na rrator o f the s e th rill ing event s re c eived
such a b ea r hug th at she fai rly gasp ed
”
“
Now sai d N aya he r hea d wh i rl ing with
“
rap i d an d decis ive pl an s I will no eat s up pe r
until he comes no r you eithe r H ann ah no r
Dougal S u rely how n ice to h ave chokecherry
—
rolly poly and potp ie o f grou s e fath er h a s a
—
so b ig ado ration fo r ro l ly poly an d potp ie A n d
—
there sh all b e wil d roses f o r h is room m ay th e
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28
s oftened h is hea rt o f s tone an d s ent an
a rmy o f warning heral ds to h i s southern b oun
dary F o r p rotection from wi nte ry b l a s ts th e
house hugged close to the b utte an d w as shel
te re d an d ado rned on i ts th ree remaining fl ank s
b y unusually l arge and luxu ri ant cottonwoods
wi th here an d there a l i ttle fi r or sp ruce wh ich
the wist f ul suggestion o f a now Silen t voice h ad
caused to b e transpl anted f rom the mountai ns
The low heavily b eamed ceil ing an d rough
unfinished walls of the inte rio r lent t h em s elves
admi ra b ly to the wild ch a rm o f N aya s de c o ra
tions A f te r she an d Pigeon h ad m ade a rai d
o n the cherry p atch there w a s a tri p to the fiel ds
fo r su nflowers an d a trip to the p rai rie fo r pop
p ies an d a tri p to a ca ti on f o r th i s and a tri p to
“
the rive r f o r th at unti l Dougal s ai d A boot
”
wh ile
su n d oo n I ll b e a b u t yi n ye i f ye n ae stop
H annah put i n an e ffectu al remonstrance
When all w as finished the ti red bu t h ap py
ch il d went to her room Th is ap a rtment opened
from a sp acious sitting room an d f o rmed p a rt
o f a south wing wh ich h ad b een added to the
m ai n structu re a f ew mon ths a f ter i ts c omple
tion O wing to its site being s ome th ree o r fo u r
ta ri l y
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30
A S T ORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
feet h i gh e r th an th e floo r O f t h e adjoi n in g r oom
i n reach ing i t o ne mo u n ted a l i ttle s tai rway
T he op en doo r revealed a tas te b oth wi l d and
sta rtl i ng A t the f a r en d an d rea c h i ng almost
to th e peak of the s l antin g roof w as a wal l o f
ragge d boul d e rs i n the c revi c e s o f w h ich
trickle d an d s ang th e s h i n i ng th rea d s o f falli ng
wate r wh i le he re an d th e re grew vivi d p at c hes
o f mo ss an d f ern thei r gra c ef u l l eave s feat h e r
i ng downwa rd towa rd the l u minou s pool at i ts
b ase E ve ry mo rni ng at dayb reak N aya p lunged
i nto i ts refre s h ing wate rs sni fli ng wi th d el i gh t
th e wil d woo d o d o r o f fern an d flowe r th at
fo rmed i t s bo rde r The fi r ep lace l i k ewi s e o f
stone wa s banked wi th sc a rlet bu ffalo berri es
s till w reathed i n t h e del i c ate snowy l a c e of the
wil d c u cumber w h ile on th e She l f ove rh ead
w as an I ndi an b a s k et o f b ea u ti ful p atte rn m a ss ed
wi th th e blue green f ol i age and w h ite blo s soms
o f th e p rickly pop py
S u rmoun ting th is w as a
g reat dee r head i t s wi de m any poi nted antle rs
l a d ene d with h al f bu rne d c an dle s I n o ne co r
ne r a mi ni atu re W i gwam a gi ft f rom N ay a s
mother s people rea red its h ead o f c ro s sed an d
i nte rc ro ss e d b ran c h e s i ts s lop ing s i des o f dee r
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31
N A YA
skin c rudely emblazoned i n c olo r ed quill s with
outlines o f tom ahawks and pon ies and wa rrior s
in aggress ive atti tudes wh ile i ts b orde r w as a
heavy f ri nge o f b l ack horsehai r Everywhe re
there were the heads and gleam ing eye s o f the
fi rst settle rs o f th is vast wilderne ss eve rywhere
walls and floo r so f t skins and go rgeous I ndian
b l ankets strings o f elk teeth and o f snake rattle s
an d of quill l ike shells from the f a r away
Pacific p ieces o f petri fied wood wi de fan s of
eagle f eather s an d beaded I n di an garments an d
re l i e s i n a m ad p ro f u s ion o f color
I n the m i ds t
o f this b ar b a ric displ ay wa s the l ates t s pecimen
o f th e i ngenious Dougal s h andiwork a n arrow
b ed of s atiny s weet smell ing p i ne covered w i th
a counte rp ane o f pu re wh ite O ve r th i s hun g
N ay a s most p reciou s trea s u re a vague p a s tel
sketc h o f he r mothe r whose lovely l ineaments
h ad b een an insp i ration to Will i am s l atent tal
ent S he was rep resented with head th rown b ac k
among wh at seemed to b e the heavy b ranch es
o f a p ine
B arring th e wonder f ul eye s and smile
an d the touches o f ermine on her tun ic all was
s h adowy and indistinct
Wh ile N aya dressed a w e e f at porcup ine with
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32
A S T ORY O F THE B IGHO R N C O U NTRY
q u ill s l ike p in feath e rs ro ll e d abo u t an d fondled
h e r feet i n a mo s t l a u gh a b le d i s p l ay o f aff ection
wh ile t h e velvet eye d fawn S ah ke e trotti ng
a b o u t on d ai n ty leg s altern atel y k iss e d h e r h an d s
an d c hewed he r b r a i d s
A S th e time p a ss e d s h e g rew mo r e an d m o re
r e s tle ss The c ool ing twi l igh t w as fa s t veili n g
t h e h eate d l and b u t f rom h e r win d ow Sh e coul d
S ti ll d iscern tw o Sp i re s s hadowin g u pwa rd
towa rd the s ky t h ei r attit ud e su gge s ti ng a p o rtal
to th e lonely mys ti c s ea be yond w h en c e c ame
the o cc a s io nal s h ril l c ry of a wil d fowl o r th e
faint wai l o f a wan de ring c oyote S oon th e s ta r s
be g an to gl i tte r wit h th at b rill i an c e pe c u li a r to
p r ai ri e region s an d ove r h ea d th e M ilky Wa y
gl imme r e d l ike a sc a rf o f l u m i nou s w h i te w h i c h
the n i g h t win d s h a d to rn f r o m th e moon l a d y s
s h o u l d er s
A s tran g e s h yne ss k ep t h e r from the r oa d s i d e
W here sh e meant to l i s ten fo r h e r f ath er s ret u rn ,
an d when s he finally h ea r d h i s voi c e i n t h e s i t
tin g room s he a s ton i s he d h e r s el f by c ree p i ng i nto
the l i ttle I n d i an lo dg e an d c u rl i n g u p on the
floo r She wep t as i f he r h ea rt wou l d b rea k
The re he fo u nd he r an d al tho u gh the tea rs
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33
’
N AYA
were in h is ow n eyes he coul d not hel p l augh ing
at he r do rmouse attitude
“
I t i s not that I h ave no g l adne ss to s ee you
f athe r sh e so bb ed as he picked he r u p kis s
ing he r agai n and again Then Sh e l aughed too
and seiz ing each othe r s h ands they danced
a round the room a s i f th ey were i n a Pun c h an d
J u dy show
I n the doo rway Stoo d a boy of fou rteen o r
therea b outs dum b f ounded ove r the scene th at
met h i s gaze O n catch i ng sigh t o f him N aya
p aused a b rup tly an d tu rned to h er f athe r with
a question in he r eyes
”
“
C ome i n A rthu r he s ai d hea rti ly
Th is
”
i s you r cousin dea r
tu rning to h i s daugh te r
“
He h as come to l ive wi th u s an d hel p me m ake
”
you mi nd
O ne coul d scarcely s ay that sh e was th e
f acsimile o f the caricatu re b ut i n he r wi de eyed
aston ishment she certai nly bo r e i t a Striking t e
sem b lance F i nally h e r face i ll u mine d i n a
“
sm ile and Sh e sai d Slowly Th en you a re the
neither th ick no r th i n no r round no r squ a re
A s th is petri f ying sp eec h reached the b o y s
ea rs the re was a mad rush th rough the room f ol
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34
A S TORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U N T RY
lowe d by a Spl as h an d th e fawn wi th d is tended
nostril s an d aff ri gh ted eye s w as s een to p lu nge
i nto the pool with an u n fam il i a r loo k i ng S cotch
coll ie i n eage r an d noisy p u r s u i t F i nd ing th is
an unten able refuge the te rri fie d c reatu re
sc ram b le d ou t s c atte ri ng in i ts wake flowe rs an d
fe rn s an d stones ; then b oun d ing th rough an open
win dow i t to re ac ross a n a rrow b ri dgeway an d
d is ap pea red i n the tree tops and th e n i gh t
Th is s udden di n b roke the i ce an d the s i lky
pen itent s trange r h avi n g been p resented to h i s
new m i s tre ss th ey all wen t down the s tep s an d
t rave r s ing th e sitti n g room aglow with su n
flowe rs ente re d the d i n ing room beyond whe re
H ann ah an d Dougal h ungry bu t loyal ly obed i
ent to c omman ds awai ted thei r com i ng
“
T h ink O f my l i ttle p ra i rie c h icken eating po t
p ie an d rolly poly at ten o clock at n i ght s ai d
Wi ll i am viewin g th e s team ing d ishes an d th e
flower s th at ado rned the ta b le
“
”
—
B u t I am been h ave been co rrected the
“
c h il d loo k i ng at H ann ah mos t good the whole
time T o day th ough I w as p retty b a b y an d
bad tw o time s C ried ! O n c e when ol d S u rp ri s e
”
o
t
f
o
r
m
e
an
d
on
c
e
w
h
en
me
an
d
o
o
f
o
u
t
r
g
y
g
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35
N AYA
looking up at h er fath er a ff e c tion ately, She
h i tched he r chai r clo s er to h is
“
”
A n do ye cal l th at all y i r b adne ss ? ques
ti o ne d Dougl as teasingly
”
O h th at sh e replied i n qu ic k con f ess ion
“
th i nking he spoke wi th h idden intent
I di d
swim the river o ne d ay an d h aving no time to
come home f o r di nner I di d eat the green wi l d
p lum s an d c hokecherries i n a c a non Th a t i s
”
all
“
A n a fine s igh t ye we re w h en I fo u n d y e
i
r
f
ace
all
streaked
i
chokecherry
j
uice
an
w
y
i
r
f
rock
all
torn
A
n
ice
sca
re
ye
g
ae
u
s
y
Tel l you r f ather wh at y ou f ound s ai d H an
n ah w h o w as b usy h eap i ng plate s an d fill ing
cup s
O h ye s fathe r A so quee r th ing of stone
l ike I n di an grandmother use s to poun d the gras s
”
hopper meal in
”
“
G ra s shop per meal ! ex c l aime d A r thu r
s tartled ou t of h is b as h ful Silen c e
”
“
S u rely s ai d t h e ch il d h er eye s d ancing with
mi sc h i ef fo r s h e h ad h ea r d of th e p r ej u dice of
“
th e wh ite ra c e
O n c e on a l a k e in th e far No rth
I m ade vi s i ts to good I ndi a n g randmother an d
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36
N AY A
J ust then o u t came a hat o f d roop ing b rown
s traw i ts c rown enci rcled wi th a willowy plume
wh ich Will i am h ad s een i n a F i f th Avenue shop
win dow an d suddenly recalli ng that N aya h ad
never worn an yt h ing b ut a l ittle shawl in col des t
wi nte r and her ow n h eavy tres s es i n s ummer he
decided to attemp t a convers ion j n favo r of
c ivili zed headgea r
The E ngli s h boy h ad s ca r c ely s po k en t h e
whole evening b ut a steady obse rvation o f h i s
su rroundings an d o f N aya i n p a rticula r h ad
given h im im p ressions wh ich were rather jol t
i ng to the i deas an d images gained f rom a b u m
d rum vill age existence
H e noticed wi th
amazed i nterest N ay a s Splen di d pu rple b l ack
b raids which entwined with ch ains o f sca rlet
ki nnikin ic b erries f ell to the edge o f he r ski rt
an d the neckl ace o f l ittle pol ished b ea r cl aw s
sh ining agai nst the deep red o f her d ress the gi r
dle o f moss agates the b righ t b eaded mocca s ins
an d most o f all the f rank ch atter an d radi ant
f ace The cl im ax c ame when s ei z i ng th e h at
and c rushi ng i t o n s i deways the p lume wh ich
shoul d h ave f al len b eh i nd b o bb ing i n her f a c e
sh e snatched the terrified looking d oll an d went
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38
A S TORY O F THE B IGHO R N C O U NT RY
s p i nn in g a ro u n d th e roo m wi th th e c ol l i e b a r k
i n g j oyo u s ly at h e r h ee l s
A gi rl w h o eats gra ss ho p pe rs h as a wate r
”
fall i n h e r roo m and neve r h a d a h at l th o ug h t
he
S oon th ere w as a gene ral d i s pe rs ion to be d bu t
l ong afte r he h a d go ne to h i s r oom A rth u r l ay
r eview in g all h e h ad s een an d h ea r d u nti l ful l
o f wonde r abo u t th e new l i f e h e w a s ente ri n g
u p on h e fel l i nto a d eep s lee p an d th e s ilen c e o f
th e p rai ri e n i gh t b r oo d e d ov e r al l
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C H A PT E R I V
Like th e brigh t s h a d e o f som e i mmo rt a l d re a m
Wh i c h wa l k s w h en temp e t l eeps th e wav e o f l ife s d a rk s tre a m
A s m i ne o w n S h a do w wa s th i chi ld to m e
s
,
’
s
,
—Th
s
.
.
S H ELLY
e
Rev ol t
f I sl am
o
.
E arly the following mo rn ing Will i am Duns
mui r sat on the b road river po r c h gazing into the
f resh ness and f ragrance of a new b o rn day wi th
eyes that were trou b led an d un s eeing T h e
whole wo rl d l i f ted i ts dew Sp a rkl ing f ace to a
m ist o f p alest gold and the meadow l a r k s ac ro ss
the rive r c adenced thei r mo rni ng ec s tasy in tones
o f raptu rous b eau ty
B u t h e saw noth ing heard
nothing H e sat rel axed an d motionles s an d th e
smooth sh aven f ace with i ts b lue gray eyes so
b oyish i n the l ight o f N aya s candles an d of h i s
recovered joy now f ully exp ressed the h a r d s hip s
and sorrow s o f h is fo rty f ou r year s
“
H ad I b ut taken her to the C athol ic N u n
ne ry at Fo rt G a rry as I w as m in ded to do al l
”
th is woul d h ave b een avoi ded ran h is thoughts
“
T h ey s eemed nice l i ttle th ings i n thei r dove
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A S T ORY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTR Y
c olo re d f r o c k s S he wo u l d be p rote c ted the re
an d I wou l d not be etern ally wei gh ted wi th th i s
agon i z i ng fea r B u t I sh a l l k e e p h e r w i th m e i n
Do ug al s ay s th e sc hool I knew h e
sp i te o f a l l
h ad bad n ew s when h e c alled me b a c k to th e si t
ting room l a s t n i g ht God know s I h ave done
al l I c o u l d fo r the c h i ld a s I d i d fo r he r
”
moth e r
T he moth e r ! H e wi n c e d l a s h e d by a s udd en
an gu i s h fo r th e re c ame a rememb ran c e of th at
l as t ho u r by the fi re l i gh t w h en t h e fai nt sm ile
fade d an d t h e d u s k y l i ttle fa c e be c ame s ti ll
then c ol d
O h the h o u r s of l onel i ne ss t h e d ay s of l o ne l i
ne ss the yea r s o f l onel ine ss ! De a r God I
woul d di e i f i t we re no t fo r the c h il d S o i t i s
h ap p i nes s to love ? F oolish d ream of you th
A gain th at bl a c k se a o f bi tte r s u ffe ring th at roll s
an d rolls i ts d eep tragi c voi c e neve r ceasi ng I
e
e
l
e
s
e it s bl ac k ne s s
i
t
roll
I
I t i s th e S e a o f
f
E tern al S u ff e ri ng an d F o reve r Lo s t an d w h en
th e su n i s on th e h ill s an d the s ou nd o f c heerfu l
v oi c e s i s i n my ea r th en i ts ter ri f yi n g wate rs
—
moun t mount an d t h at de s p ai ri n g voice c ri es
—
s
u
re
l
y
t
h
ey
c
an
h
ea
r
A
lone
!
i
t
A
l
o
n
e
l
(
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41
N AYA
A lone ! Leave me the ch ild o r my l i fe will be
too h a rd to b ea r Ah
Th e exp ression o f p ain d ied f rom h i s face an d
he sh i f ted po s ition as N aya ap pea red on the
slopes b elow which scatte red here and the re
wi th aspen and cottonwood descended i n natu ral
te rraces to the rive r S he wo re a wh ite p lume i n
he r h ai r an d in the wh i te cotton d re s s o f
H ann ah s m ake (the good soul was alway s t ry
i ng to wean he r from b a r b a ric fine ry ) Sh e wa s
qu i te devoi d o f colo r excep t f or the sca rlet moc
casi ns an d a ne c k l ace o f delicately ti nted co ral
which ol d S p ain h ad p ro b a b ly l e f t as a peace
o ff ering in the sh adow o f an A ri zon a pue b lo
Heaven keep th i s l ittle one h al f f awn h al f
meadow l a rk wi th the dawn o f a sp ring mo rn
ing l ighti ng the d reams i n h er eyes thought
he as she ran up the h ill f ollowed b y the p rou d
gaited S ah ke e an d the new collie her m agic
h aving evi dently e ff ected a reconcil i ation
”
“
C ome here l i ttle S ta rs o n the R iver
he
s ai d tenderly an d she m ade a l i ttle bound into
h is l ap w rap p i ng her b raids a roun d and around
h is neck wh ile Sh e s ai d gayly
“
S uch a so d readful sleep ine ss you m u s t h ave
’
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42
A S T ORY O F THE B IGHO R N C O U NTRY
”
h a d T o d a y i s yo u r bi rt h d ay givi n g a l i ttle
“
s quee z e an d I am w rong no t to give yo u a Z i z
I
m
i
tati
ng
an
al
a
rm
c
lo
c
k
We
z z z z clock
)
(
di d si t on th e floo r i n f ront of you r doo r a s o long
time D i d no t we ? pull i n g the ea r s o f the f awn
th at w as th ru s ti ng h i s nose i n he r f ace i n an e n
Th e so wh i te d re s s
d e av o r to attrac t attention
an d plume a re b eca u s e fo r you r b i rt h d ay an d the
A nd th is d rawing f rom
so b eau ti f u l c o rals too
he r po c k et a l ittle to b a c co pou c h o f b u ck s ki n
gay with b eads an d f ringe
I t is I who m ade
ti gh t each l ittle b ea d an d I w h o am aga i n so
”
h ap py an d s he nestled h er ch e ck agai n s t h i s
rough c o at
Wh at quee r rough ne ss o f you r
clothe s
I t is S cotch tweed I bou gh t t h em i n Lo n
”
don repl ied he r f athe r u nti l now a S i lent an d
lovi ng l istene r to h e r s o ft voiced chatte r
Tweed ! F unny l i ttl e n ame H ow a p p ro
r
i
a
t
e
t
S
um
b
l
i
ng
ove
r
big
wo
rd
e
o
r
h
f
t
p
(
)
s trange r dog f rom ove r th e G reat Wate rs
”
C ome Tweed ie Sh e c al le d to the coll i e wh ich
with trem b l i ng i nte rest wat c h ed a flock o f
“
bl a c kb i rd s s kimm i ng the rive r
Listen to the
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43
,
N A YA
”
so n ice name I give you Where i s new cou s i n ?
tu rni ng again to Wil l i am
H e h as gone to the sta b les with Dougal I
wai ted here to speak to you f o r H annah s ai d you
woul d soon retu rn I h ave s ometh ing impo rtant
”
to talk a b out
”
O h f ath e r not s col d I h O pe She excl aimed
“
si tting u p h asti ly in di re conste rn ation
I am
”
no lose tempe r Since tw o moons
”
“
No da rling i t is someth ing qu ite di ff erent
J ust then A rthu r and Dougal came a roun d
the house the f o rme r s f resh b oy face tu rned i n
excited intere s t to Dougal w h o was evi dently
expounding the merits an d demerits o f a h o rse
“
M ayh ap he ll b e a wee b i t dou r w i a stranger
ri din h im f or the fi rst time b u t he h as gude s ense
”
an is Shu re a ti dy b eastie
When th e boy sp ied N aya he became i ns tantly
“
shy and taking o ff h is hat wi th a muffl ed G ood
”
mo rn ing drop ped to a seat on the Step s wh ile
Will iam addressing Dougal s aid
“
Tell H annah to wai t b reak f ast a f ew m in
utes an d then come ba c k fo r we migh t as well
”
tell her now
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44
,
N A YA
“
s ai d p assion ately I tell not I die b e f ore Y ou
”
th ink i f they steal me I am ki lled ?
“
No dea r they would not h a rm you f or they
”
love you o f cou rse
B ut you th ink I l ive wi th them ? Y e s they
a re my people and I love the W i gwam b est
one moves to pl aces always more lovely and I so
adore the dark still f o rest and U ncle Wh i te
B u ff alo does p ai n t his f ace so b eauti f ul B ut I
love you mo re th an everythings and eve rybodys
and I never leave you b e f o re we die
“
P recious ch il d they sh all not h ave you an d
w e will keep ou r sec ret b ut I ough t to sen d you
away to school
“
—
To school the pl ace o f m any ch i l d ren where
they ring th e b ells ? O h f athe r I know I spea k
so terri b le you r E nglish b u t I wil l try more
h ard A n d you do teach me lots you r own sel f
to read an d to s ay not n augh ty wo rded th ings
and to control my angry and to call the b i rds an d
th e flowe rs with thei r n ames an d I can m ake
p retty bead thin gs an d tame the l ittle wil d th ings
an d ri de standing up Pigeon when She runs
A n d she pu t her head i nsi de the rough tweed
j acket an d so bb ed uncontroll a b ly
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46
A S T ORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
“
”
U ncle
Will i am s ai d th e b oy w h o s too d b y
“
p ale an d re s olu te let u s keep N aya he re We
will p rotect he r we th ree an d he looked at
Dougal w h o gaze d at the d i s tan t b lu ff s wi th
—
moist eyes
We will always be wi th he r o ne
o f us an d i f anyone ap p roache s w e wi l l ru n f o r
”
th e ranch I wi ll lea rn to s hoo t too h e ad ded
wi th fie rce dete rm i nation
Wi l li am cl a s ped h i s h an d i n s ym p athy b ut
s adly rep l ied N o th at is i t t h e re m u s t be no
blood Shed fo r afte r al l they a re al lied to me by
ve ry d e a r tie s No r can I b ea r to se t the troop s
on t h em
B u t I th ought I mu st tell you so you
c oul d hel p u s gua r d he r Wel l an yway they
wil l act a cc o rding to thei r idea o f honor an d
will m a k e no attem p t unti l th ey h ave given me a
ch ance to d o w h at th ey ask Do you s till th i n k
”
Dou gal th at we ou gh t to s en d h e r away ?
“
I dinn a k en t h a n atu r o f the I n di an boot I
gie ye ma word I l iked n ae weel t h ei r gl ow e ri n
c oun ten ance an dou r speech T h ey wu d h a ren t
me f rae en d to end fo r a w e e d rap p ie o S pe e ri ts
I k en A boot w h a ye re as k in th a l a ss ie i s s afe
i f She l l no ru n awa li ke th a day I w as a tell i n
ye I t was soon a f ter I met them in y o n glen an
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47
’
I thought they wu d nae wai t y i t c omin bu t h a
ta en he r S he m aun keep tae h ame Hoot o n
th a shule b ai rn ie D i nna greet Y e ll be a
”
b reaki n oo r herts i f ye nae stop
S uddenly sh e aston ished them all by sta rting
up righ t f awn eyes aflash an d l i ttl e fists clenched
tigh t wi th excitement
“
My h ow so f ast Pigeon woul d run S he can
j ump a b u ff alo wallow mos t wi de f rom here to
”
b u nk house sh e s aid l aughi ng at her e x ag
l on
a
t
h
an
d
f
alls
nev
r
i
n
the
b
adge
r
hole
S
e
I
e
e
g
—j ust once— th en how terri b le my f aul t f o r I
—
pl ayed the
game ci rc ru sh you call i t ? an d
the f ringes o f th e h e ad sash di d dance i n her eyes
”
an d Sh e coul d no t see
“
You a re right to take a ch eerful view o f i t
”
little N aya s ai d he r f athe r rising an d shak
“
ing h imsel f
They may even ch ange thei r
mi nds an d not retu rn at all so you need not train
Pigeon to leap th e rive r j ust yet H u rrah f o r
”
h am an d flapjack s he concluded assuming an
ai r o f gayety th at h e w as fa r f rom feeling an d
leading the w ay toward the d ining room
A s they entered they were greeted wit h a se
ries o f s harp b arks f rom the newly ch ris
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48
A S T ORY O F THE B IGHO R N C O U NTRY
tene d Twee d I n a n atti tu de o f m i ngle d agita
tion an d del igh t he viewed the pl aci d f awn th at
occu p ied th e cente r o f the d ini ng ta b le an d con
te n te d l y ri fled the suga r b owl h e r del ic ate l i ttle
nose qu ite los t i n its p o r c el ai n dep th s N aya
s p atte d h e r h an d s gleefu lly at wh ich s ign of d i s
mis s al h e r wel l di s c i pl i ned ch il d step p ed c a re
fully to the c h ai r thence to the floo r avo idi ng
the b u tter an d th e s yru p j u g wi th mo s t d a in ty
d el iberation
“
”
S weet b ab y to no c ras h th i n gs s ai d he r
yo u ng m istres s k i ss ing th e s ti c ky nose Whe reat
S ah ke e c oolly t rotte d off to the ki t c h en fo r mo re
s u ga r
A fte r b rea k fa s t N aya c a ugh t u p a l i tt l e ba s k et
an d calle d to th e ot h er s
“
I t i s to d ay th at I f ree my bu tte rflie s fo r thei r
wi ngs d roo p wit h s adne ss an d fath er y ou mus t
s ee my so cunn ing racoon s t h at O l d Tom d i d
”
c atch fo r me five s leep s ago
S he d ance d along leading t h e w ay towa rd th e
g ro u p of bu il di ng s wh ich con s ti tu te d the rem ai n
de r o f the h ome ranc h s ettlement O n one a rm
swinging by a thong o f d ee r s kin was th e b asket
o f f re s h gra ss e s an d twig s an d va riou s othe r
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49
,
N AYA
p rovi s ions wh ile unde r the othe r the little f at
po rcup ine snuggled b l iss f ully H ad the di s
d ained dol l seen this su b sti tute f o r her waxen
ch a rms dou b tless she woul d h ave sta red at the
ceil ing i n Sti ll gl assie r wide r eyed resentment
N o dou b t he r plump pi nk cheeks woul d h ave
b een qu ite melted wi th scaldi ng tea rs o f humil i a
tion and homes ickness f o r he r pl ace o f hono r in
the res pecta b le E ngl ish shop f a r ove r the sea
A rthu r only too ready to see eve ryth ing
anyth ing o f th is strange an d f asci nating pl ace
f ollowed close b y wh ile the O lder mem b ers o f
h e r reti nue decided th at the se rious is s ues o f
accounts an d repo rts coul d wai t anothe r fi f teen
m inu tes The boy h ad al ready seen the b unk
h ouse f o r the cow b oys a long low struc tu re re
sem b l ing the b a rracks o f a f rontie r post an d h ad
even caught a gl impse of the sh i ny p igtai l coi ls
wh ich c rowned H is M aj esty the C hinese cook
wh ile the a rrangement o f the stab l e s and the
checker b oard o f co rrals were all h is own fo r
evermo re ; b u t the mysterie s o f the l i ttle sod
b u ild ing in th e Shadow o f the cottonwoods close
by h ad not yet b een penetrated
“
—
I t is a pl ace to m ake moccasins wh at you
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50
A STOR Y O F TH E B IGHORN C O U N TR Y
—
shoes fo r the hor s e s Dougal di d
say them ?
”
give me one co rne r f o r the l i ttle w il d th in gs
The doo r was wi de op en an d A rth u r saw a
b l acksmi th s f o rge an d a long wooden wo rk
b ench wi th a mu ltitu dinous a rray o f c a rpente r s
tools E ve rywhe re i n mo re o r les s con f usion
w as the usu al ranch de b ris o f ol d wh i p pletrees
gunny sacks bi ts of h arness mowi ng m ach ine
kn ives and s ma s hed s addles I n one co rne r we re
seve ral woven wi re cages con tai n ing N aya s f am
”
“
ily o f l i ttle wil d th in gs
The b righ t bl ack
eye s o f two l i ttle racoons s eemed to s py h e r fi r s t,
an d they immed i ately began to wai l l ike b a b ie s ;
bu t when sh e sl i p ped i n a f ew bit s o f me at th ey
hus h ed thei r c rie s an d i n the mo s t com ical
B i dd y F i nnegan m an ne r began to sou s e an d
sc ru b them i n a p an of wate r a s i f they we re p a rt
o f t h e M ond ay s wa s h
T h ei r next d oo r neig h
bo r s were th ree ti ny pocket m ice al l o f wh ich
sc uttled l ike l igh tnin g i nto N aya s outstret c hed
p alm n i bb li ng wi th f ranti c h aste t h e d rie d su n
flowe r s eeds sh e p roff e red an d wi th mo s t com
men d able fore s igh t c rammin g th e l i t tle o u ts i de
pou c he s o f th ei r c h ee k s u ntil th ey looke d a s i f
th e y wo u l d bu rs t
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SI
NAYA
”
“
D a rl ing m amm a tail o f c otton s ai d N aya
kneel ing b e f ore the th i rd c age and th rowi ng i n
f resh gras s e s and willow b a rk to a timo rou s
flu ff y cottontail and he r tw o wee b a b ie s wh ich
wi th exp ressions o f deepe s t concentration an d
ea rne s tne ss ceaselessly moved th ei r tiny trian
gul a r mo u th s
I ken I looke d l ike th em w h en I nea re d th a
ki rkya rd o n ma w ay to S ab b ath s hule an w as
”
t ry i n not to fo rget the c atech i s m
s ai d Do u gal ,
as they went into the O pen
”
“
G o b ble go bb le came fier c ely f rom a rou n d
th e corner and the re appea red a sl atternly f o r
lo rn ol d veteran w h o woul d h ave resem b le d a
dism antled ma rket on the n igh t befo re C h ri s t
m as h ad i t not b een fo r a m aj e s ty o f m ien befo r e
wh ich all sco rn f ul thought s sh riveled l ike th istle s
i n a fro s t I n hi s wake twi nkled a h al f dozen
b alls o f p eep ing yellow down an d when thei r
p rotecto r encountered the spectato r s he gl a re d
“
defiantly as much a s to s ay L augh at me i f yo u
l ike b ut b eware I can peck ou t eye s a s well a s
”
bite tenpenny nails
”
“
“
I t is R ag tag M o s es s ai d N aya I n ame d
h im fo r the s o kin d O l d m an w h o c are d fo r th e
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52
,
N AY A
l ighting on h e r ou ts tretched a rm s an d radiant
face other s b alancing thei r p ainted wings in he r
wh ite plumed h ai r wh i le eddi es o f b rilli ant gos
same r alte rn ately melted i n th e d azzle of the
mo rni ng sky o r fluttered down again in a b ewil
de ri ng showe r The B utterfly S i ren stood i n th is
sh imme ring rain b ow qu i te unconscious o f the
exqu isi te f antasy o f he r ap pea rance and began
c alling th e b i ts o f colo r b y n ame
—
R ed R ai n tiny b eauti f ul fly to the f ai rie s
They h ave noth ing to ride as a wh ite wi nged
c reatu re fle cke d wi th c rimson l i t on he r cheek
“
”
O h th ere you a re D reamy Dusky Wing
recogniz ing the so f t toned grays an d l i l acs o f
another l ittle f riend A nd to a lovely b lue an d
s i lve r b asking langu i dly o n her han d S i lve r
S pot di d you d rop f rom the b rush o f the G reat
S p i ri t when he di d p ai nt the s ky ? F ly to you r
homes How h ow ? and o ff she ran th rough
the trees wh ile the b righ t p atche s of ol d ro s e
an d tawny o range an d vivi d green and lustrous
red scatte red an d floated ou t towa rd the flow e r
em b roi dered pl ains there to di p th ei r gil ded
wi ngs in the dew and perfume u ntil th e coming
o f the gray d ay s
Good by good by
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54
A S T ORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U N T RY
‘
B e d o u in s o f th e p athle ss
s oftly q u ote d
Will i am wat c h i ng them o u t of s igh t
I t is s o
s trange tu rn ing to A rth u r sh e has the mo s t
magical w ay o f c at c h ing an d tam i ng th ese wil d
c reatu re s A f te r pl ayi ng wi th them a bi t she lets
th em f ree an d n i ne time s o u t o f ten they h ang
a ro u n d th e ran c h and come to he r as f ea rles s ly as
i f sh e we re one o f them Th e h ouse i s sim p ly
ove r r u n with owl s an d ho rned to ad s a nd m a g
p ie s b u t I can not scold he r fo r sh e h a s neve r
h ad any othe r pl aym ate s
S he i s s hu re a leetle wi t c h I h a seen he r w i
he r a rm s f u 0 flowe rs go i n to th at b utte rfly c a g e
an s i t the re b y th e oo r an th a leetle c ri ttu r s a
c raw l i n a n a fl
i
n
all
ove
r
he
r
Why
th
a
i
the
r
y
—
mo rni n g u de ne ss I t s Boock sk i n J oe o n th a
”
m ad filly
F rom the co rral swep t a pe r f ect hu rri c ane o f
dust i n the m id dle o f wh ich o ne d imly pe rceive d
a heaving plun gin g m a s s the rad i ati n g poi n t o f
flyin g legs and tai l an d l a ri at en d s an d the Steady
sweep o f a rawh i de qui rt A wi de som b re ro was
seen m adly tou ri ng the h igh heaven s an d a p i pe
r i p ped th e ai r as i f d i s p atch e d b y wi rele s s teleg
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raph y
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SS
NAYA
“
”
“
S tay with e r J oe
Lick th e dayl ight s out
o the l ittle devi l
M uch o b l iged fo r you r
—
p i pe
came th e c ries f rom h i S com rades who
we re b usily p repa ring f o r th ei r own cycloni c
fl i gh ts
Th w ack l Th w ack l respon ded th e l ash i ng
qui rt an d the rider sat h is p i tch ing squeal ing
b roncho wi th a s much app a rent com f o rt and ease
a s i f recl ining i n a wing ch ai r on a po rc h
of tranqui l old Vi rgin i a
”
“
J im iny c rickets l ej acul ated A rth u r as the
b l az ing eyed l ittle monste r tore p ast h im taking
great lunges i n the ai r an d coming down wi th
l egs as sti ff as Steel rails an d b unched togeth er
l ike a dee r sl aying a rattlesnake
“
S he weel shu re th row
p rophesie d
Dougal and su re enough th e de s p erate c reatu re
took one f right f ul leap in the ai r an d f all ing ove r
b ackwa rds woul d h ave c rushed the undaunted
J oe h ad not h is ma rvelous agili ty l an ded h im b e
yon d the reach o f dange r B ut h er freedom wa s
sho rt l ived f o r no sooner di d she s tru ggle to her
f eet than she foun d her s el f once more u nder the
stinging qui rt an d sh a rp spu r Th is time the
struggle c a rried them f a r and b ucking an d
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56
,
A S T ORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
k ic k ing wi th eve ry b reath th ey soo n d i s ap pea r e d
i
ri e w a rd i n a b illow of du s t
a
r
p
“
A re ye so daft noo to mo u n t th a bl a ck
”
beasti e ? a s k ed Dougal o f A rthu r
The l atte r fel t as i f he h a d b een ri d dl e d by
ch ai n l i gh tn in g so greatly w as h e s h a k en by the
a s toun ding sp ecta c le
”
“
M y b ackbone feel s a l i ttle c h il l y he a d
“
b u t I am not a f raid I f h e
m i tte d l aug h i ng
jump s l ike th at th ough there s a to ff y c an i n m y
box th at wi l l be a b i g enough c offi n fo r all th at
”
o
u
fin d o f me
y
“
B l a c k A lde r i s frien d ly eno u g h H e is a b i t
pl ayful at time s bu t gentle a s N aya s cotton
”
“
tails a ss u re d Wil l i am
Dougal an d I h ave a
busy day befo re u s an d N aya wi ll s how you
a b ou t the ranch Don t let h e r go no r th i nto t h e
h i lls R i de to the hou s e i n s tan tly i f yo u se e
”
even one ho r s em an ap p roach ing
Th e boy was s u ddenly re c ap tu red by t h at a f
fli cti on o f afli i cti ons —
Shynes s fo r the t h ou g ht o f
g oin g off alone wi th N aya wa s noth ing les s t h an
te r ri fyi n g ; bu t h e rall ied a l i ttle u n de r the s en s e
o f re s pon s ib il ity an d tu rne d to a l es s on i n s addle
ci n c h i n g W h en h e m o u n te d t h e s h i n ing A l de r
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57
l ooked b ack question ingly b ut as i f feel ing h i s
f riendly intent all ied to the Dun s mui r co u rage
me rely gave a l i ttle p rance o r t wo Pigeon
an d N aya h avi ng completed th ei r matinal nose
rub b in g and gene ral rejoicing the tw o ch ild ren
ro d e s i d e by si d e towa r d th e s unl it p l ain s
,
,
,
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,
.
C H A PT E R
V
a rk th ose tw in th h a e ! copp i e
A b y a n d a gi r l i f th g ood fa te s pl ea se
H
o
,
o
c
z
e
e
,
he m pa s a s th e y W ll too soo n
W i th th e be a n flo w rs boo n
A n d th e b l a ckbir d tu ne
A n d M ay a n d J u ne !
"
B RO W N I N G—De
Le t t
i
s,
-
e
’
s
,
,
’
,
,
,
Gus h bu s
"
.
“
B l a c k A l d e r h a s a mo s t lovely Sh i ne H e i s
l ike th e so quee r h at th at J ack the Ten de r f oot
d i d Show me I t w as i n h is trun k when h e di d
come f rom th e E a s t B u t I l ike Pigeon mo re
b ette r S he is th e b l ue cl ay wh en the fall i ng lea f
time cove r s i t with f ro s t
A rthu r s ta red i nto the d istan c e s pee c hle ss
floun de ring i n the me s he s o f an ove rwhelmi ng
con f u s ion
I f a fel low coul d only u n de rs tand wh at s he
”
i s d rivi ng at he tho u gh t m i s e ra b ly S he seems
pe r f ectly b ully so f riend ly an d u nconscious
mos t as ni ce as a boy b u t you su re need a pony
Tender f oot ! I h ave h ea rd o f
to transl ate he r
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59
N A YA
ten d er beefs tea k s and ten d er f eel in g s bu t ten d e r
foot i s a new one on me an d a s fo r th at othe r
”
—
non s en s e Pi geon and clay and fall in g leave s
P retty soon N aya tried again
”
I coun t b ut th i rteen snow s C an you mo re ?
S ilence S he let the qu es tion pa s s and l eane d
fo rw a rd to re s t he r ch e ck on Pigeon s m ane F o r
s everal se c on ds s h e musingly o bs e rved h e r new
p l ayfellow who i n b ran d new s om b rero an d
b rand new tweed tu cked i nto b rand new boot s ,
s ti ll sat wrapped i n pai n f ul s i lence
“
I h O pe you fin d no h u rt sh e b egan poli tely
“
b u t I know a so n ice trade an d I will show
t
to
ri
de
mo
re
b
etter
an
d
you
will
help
me
o
ou
y
”
—
s pea k th e E ngl ish mo r e better bette r e r ? sh e
a d de d i n q u es t i on i ng co rrecti on
“
”
B ette r he s ai d b riefly
”
“
O h to sp eak th e E n g l i s h bette r better
”
“
N 0 pl ai n better
“
How most s tu p i d I am To Speak th e E ng
”
l ish pl ai n b ette r
A t th is the b oy gul ped an d h eave d wi th s u p
p ressed l aughter an d tri ed to th ink o f h is S u n
d ay school teacher s f une ral and o f the day Ph i l
H a m ilton almo s t put h i s eye o u t wit h a sp it b a l l
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60
NAYA
s treamers of cloud floating high ove r the ol d
g ray ga b led house i n its setting o f ancient oak
and c raggy f ell and b a rren moo r
I t is a hal f m i le f rom C l i f dale you know
—
and is aw f ul ol d and wea the r b eaten the house
—
—
I mean M oth e r w e all l ive the re now wanted
to h ave nice new f u rn i tu re b ut U ncle Will iam
and f athe r l ike the old ch ai r s and cu rtains an d
th ings b est My wo rd though b ut they a re
f aded Isn t i t getti ng hot ?
G o on sai d N aya w h o de s pi te h aving
heard he r f athe r s old home d esc ri b ed a hund red
times h ung b reathless on each wo rd
S ometimes th e gulls fly i n f rom the sea an d
—
O h yo u woul d l ike the flowe rs
I n the sp ri ng
the h ills a re j ust yellow with d a ff odils an d
grandmothe r h as a b eauti f ul garden
I n the
cente r is the f unnies t ol d sun di al all cove red
wi th red roses an d she h as two o f the ri ck i e st ol d
ho rses th at d rag her a round the country i n a
regul a r M e th u sal e h o f a l an dau I guess U ncl e
Willi am di dn t find C l i f dale very exciti ng so he
came to A me rica There a re f ou r o f a s ch i ld ren
you know an d we al l th ink it is m igh ty good o f
h im to b ri ng me h ere an d teach me ranch ing
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62
A S TORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
N aya del i gh ted i n h i s e x p an s iveness fo r i n
s p i te of her immat u ri ty an d c rown o f th i rteen
s now s sh e h ad recogn i zed h i s p a ralyz ing shy
ne ss wi th s ec ret sym pa thy an d rej oiced i n the
re s ul t o f he r f riendly a p p roa c hes S o they rode
o n and o n th ro u gh the g olden d ay he desc ri b in g
and glo ri f yi ng i n h is rough b oy f ashi on the
beau ti ful l i ttle co rne r of ol d E ngl an d wh i le s he
chattered qu ai ntly o f th e mi gh ty ran c h and o f
th e f asci n ation s o f W i gwam l i f e The re we re
i nte rl udi ng le s son s i n ho rs em an s h i p given i n
such a d i fli d e nt way th at no boy howeve r i h
fla te d wi th th e im po rtance o f f ou rteen yea r s
coul d h ave taken o ff en s e
The fin ge r s j u s t so an d th e left h an d alwa ys
a s t h e ri gh t i s fo r th e sometime s s o n e c e s s a ry
qu i rt Y ou si t most s trai gh t an d S plend i d
“
wi th adm i ring a pp roval I h ave the so b ad h abi t
o f lean ing to Pigeon s ne c k to m a k e h e r ru n
It
is mo s t disgracious
“
Then they cal led u pon the i nm ate s o f H ap py
”
Town an d there we re mul ti tu des o f l ittle races
to th is sageb ru s h an d that b leach in g b u ff alo
sk u ll u ntil mi dd ay f oun d them m any m i le s f rom
ho m e
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63
NAYA
“
”
No
“
m atte r s ai d N aya fo r H ann ah di d
give me some b i s cu i ts The rive r i s near We
”
wil l find th e shade o f th e willow
Wh ile they we re ni bb l ing thei r l ittle beaten
bis c ui ts fo r H ann ah w as f rom K entucky an d
wash ing them down wi th wate r f rom the river ,
wh ich a heavy winte r and an unu s ually l ate
S p ring ha d left s wollen an d tu rb u len t N ay a
suddenly sai d :
“
The heat i s most quee r an d the w i n d an d th e
”
A l i ttle tail o f the fi rst hot wind perh aps
sky
“
”
O ugh t n t w e to go home now ? asked
“
A rthu r who although he w as h aving j ust the
time o f h is l i fe fel t a li ttle uneasy at th i s p ro
longed vaga b on dage
Ye s yes soon
B ut fi r s t to race the l ittl e
”
I t flie s as a swallow ! u ic k ly l
a ntelope
B eing to the win dward th e un s u s pe c ting
c re atu re s h ad fed to a s wel l wi th in a h un d re d
ya rds o f th e ch il d ren Away they al l went the
”
“
l i ttl e p rong h o rned s wallows f a r i n th e lea d
an d s k imming the h ills l ike gray p h antom s
”
“
I t i s l ike c rossing a fu rnace th ough t A rth u r
A S fa r a s s i gh t coul d reach th e h eat ro s e
from th e th i c k s co r c h ed gra ss in fai nt d i zzy S p i
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64
A S TORY O F TH E B IGHO R N C O U NT RY
rals an d th e s weep ing wi n d wa s so h o t t h at A r
thu r s eye s b u rne d l ike c oal s o f fi re w h il e ove r
h ead t h e s ky be c ame a gh a s tly s h rou d o f dul l
cop pe r colo r ; bu t on th ey race d A rthu r taki ng
to h i s new mo d e o f tran s po rtation l i k e a s ea s oned
c owboy S u dd enly N aya s mu sc u l a r l i ttle a rm s
j e rke d P igeon almo s t to h e r h au n c he s
“
”
S teca ,
sh e c rie d wi l d ly a s the im p et u o u s
B l a c k A l d e r s we p t p a s t he r S imultaneo u s ly
wi th thei r ri d er s th e ho rs e s c a s t o ne g l an c e i nto
the s ou thwe s t now a ru s h i n g wall o f fi re ; then
they wh eeled an d tore m adly d own t h e wi n d
“
”
T h e rive r ! The rive r ! c alle d N aya loo k i n g
b ac k wi th bl an c h ed fa c e an d eye s wi d e o p en
d re a d
O nly th o s e w h o h ave viewe d th e s u bl ime b u t
f righ tfu l s pe c tacle o f a p rai rie fi re c an real i z e
i ts m a g nificence an d i ts te rro r I t w as l i k e th e
S e a o f J u dgm ent D ay a rocki ng l iqu i d m ass o f
fl ame now ob s cu red by g reat col umn s o f bl ack
s moke now reveal i ng wil d an d h ideou s a rm s
wh i c h s tru c k at the heaven s a s i f men a c i ng the
very u n ive r s e wit h ete rnal de s tr u c tion N ea re r
an d ev e r nea r e r i t c ame ; i ts me rc ile ss a e c om
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1
F
ire
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65
N A YA
l
i
e
c
p
,
the Wi n d Demon m adly toss ing his hai r
o f flame and seeming to sh riek h is triumph wi th
every b l ast o f smoke and cinde rs The ho rses
p anted wi th e xh au s tion b ut struggled on know
ing th at to slacken meant d eath
”
How glad to have le f t B a b y K ickapoo !
da rted th rough N ay a s mind A motley herd o f
antelope an d wolves and coyotes headed b y a
great antlered dee r swept p ast them th rough the
thickeni ng smoke old and b itter enm ities b eing
f o rgotten in the mutual peri l
C an w e m ake i t ? shouted A rthu r w h o p ale
b u t sel f controled was trying to keep close to
N aya
1
N e e tasta
she s ai d shive ring although she
coul d f eel the b reath o f the hung ry monste r close
at he r b ack an d the sp a rks f el l a b ou t them l ike
hot rain Th e stamped ing he rd was al ready
plunging i nto the water
“
I n anothe r minute
though t the h eaving
B l ack A l de r h is eyes o n th e cool h aven when a
treacherous b adger hole caugh t h is f oot an d h e
fell violently to the ground roll ing over and ove r
and th rowi ng h is rider f a r over h is head B e f o re
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1
“
h i nk
I t
so
"
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66
A S T ORY O F THE B IG HORN C O U NTR Y
A rth u r coul d catch h im he was u p an d in the
rive r
C an you s wim ? a s ked N aya Struggl i ng to
s top Pigeon
“
No h e g roaned b ut no m atte r G o o n
N aya do hu r ry
”
B u t yo u bu rn o r d rown sh e wai led noting
the tal l grass an d the depth o f th e rive r an d
swi f tly sl i pp i ng to the ground sh e pulled h im
“
towa rd the ho r s e
I swim mos t o f ten
”
I sh all no t h e s ai d tryi ng to l i f t he r to th e
s add le
“
“
O h A rth u r sh e sobbed i t ri gh t he re We
”
b o th d ie Go ! G o !
S eeing th at h e i mpe riled he r s a f ety b y l inge r
i ng h e s ome way m an aged to s c ram b le on the
now p lunging an d almos t u nm an a g eable Pi g eon
an d w as soo n ou t o f h a rm s way
“
”
Mo an ing Ch ri ste coom l Ch ri ste coom th e
l ittle gi rl fran tic ally to re o ff h e r d re ss fo r sh e
knew th at the cu rrent woul d d rag he r A S sh e
ran i n petticoat an d un de rwai s t to th e wate r s
edge a fl am ing b rand o f d ry cottonwood s tru ck
one o f th e sl im b rown a rms and wi th a l i ttle c ry
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“
Th e
Gre at S p iri t
”
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67
o f p ai n sh e d rop ped into th e water an d s an k
ou t o f s igh t When sh e rose to th e su rface a
consi dera b le distance f rom th e Sho re sh e noticed
th at Pi g eon w as swimming low wi th a look o f
distress i n he r almost hum an eyes
”
“
Pul l not the rein sh e called an d si t mo s t
”
still o r sh e wi ll roll Wet you r head
Then down sh e went again When sh e came
u p th e secon d time they were d ri f ting to an isl an d
tw o thi rds of th e w ay ac ross an d were now com
t
i
a
r
a
v
e
l
s
a
f
e
al
though
the
smoke
an
d
Sp
a
rk
s
p
y
still pou red ove r them N aya s ank i n mu te p ai n
o n th e edge of the willow thicketed s and b ar
”
“
Y ou r a rm excl aimed A rth u r, d rop ping to
h is knee s b esi de h e r and in hi s conste rn ation ,
letting go the rei n Pigeon gave one s wi ft look
at th e ravaging enemy wh ich roa red u p an d
down th e sho re l ike a b affled b eas t of p rey an d
seei ng the run away A l der cl im b ing the op posite
shore she too k a Spee d y an d u nceremoniou s
dep a rtu re
”
“
I f th e isl an d b u rn s , t h en both a re lo s t s ai d
N aya watch ing he r s adly wh i le A rth u r f elt
“
l ike b eating h is head on th e s an ds
M y arm I
”
c an swim not more
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68
,
N A YA
—
a re j u s t too b u lly f or anyth ing and I I
o
u
y
,
”
simply adore you Whe reat he b lushed c rimson
to find h imsel f actu ally s peaki ng that love m ak
i ng wo rd th at he neve r d reamed could b e u s ed
outsi de o f p rint
I f I could only get close r th an num b e r
six ! he thought
The a f ternoon wo re slowly away
“
O h to b e a b le to swim ! he groaned then I
could walk to the ranch and b ring b ack a ho rse
The re s h eaps o f wate r i n Wes tmo reland you
know b ut mothe r always m ade such everl asting
b a b ies o f us ki ds and we couldn t go in a b ove
ou r ankles
“
“
F athe r will come sh e sai d b u t I thi nk
Pigeon an d A l de r go not home until the great
da rkness f alls They suppose us at the f a r othe r
ranch perh aps
Th e rayless sun l ike a b lood red misshapen
monster s ank i nto the west and with a l ivi d
lee r at the b l ackened l and dis appeared into a
neth er worl d ; wh ile the wi nd heaving th e
gh astly s igh o f a tormented soul f ollowed i n i ts
wake A ll the wo rl d l ay sh adowed i n deepest
violet an d ove rhead the A ngel o f E ven ing h ad
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70
A STORY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTR Y
s trewn th e pu r p l e d e p th s a s wi th a h an d f u l o f
l u s tro u s p ea rl s
“
Pe r h ap s we m ake a fi re su g ge s ted N aya
“
then f ath e r s ee s an d th e wolves come not
“
B u t I h ave no m atche s h e rep l ie d mo u rn
fully
N aya i f you wi ll only f o rgive me I will
lea rn to s wim th e A tl an ti c O c ean and I hope I
m ay d i e i f I eve r s ti r again wi thou t m atche s
H e won de red at he r f o rti tu de fo r s i n c e he r
sobb in g en treati e s o n th e s h o re she ha d neith e r
c om p l aine d no r wep t
”
I th ink sh e s ai d a s th e n i gh t deepene d
“
a rou n d t h em th at I pu t my he ad i n you r l ap an d
s leep a l i ttle The a rm i s mo s t wel l wi th th e
s ooth ing medi c ine leave s an d I am most ti red
A fte r h e h a d m a d e h e r a s com fo rtable as pos
“
s ibl e sh e s ai d sweetly I t i s a s wi th mothe r
I h ad o f ten my hea d i n he r l ap an d we talked o f
th e flower s an d the bi rds S he tol d m e so s weet
l i ttle s to ri e s o f them I s e e h e r alway s S h e i s
—
mos t lovely mo re th an the s on g o f th e me a d ow
l ar k i n th e M oon o f F lowe rs A n d h e r e ye s ! I t
i s so s t r ange sh e conti nued i n a my s tic al w h i s
“
pe r
I s ee alway s a dim fa r fa r count ry an d
a g r eat mountai n to reach the Sky I t h as a so
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71
N A YA
—
w h i te l ight stream ing u p u p
I th in k i t i s not
fi re bu t a s p i rit Th at i s he r eyes Sh e knew
not th e book s a s f athe r b ut sh e so love d the flow
e rs th at I h ave seen he r tea rs fall to the violets
and the wh ite c ol u mbine as she knel t to th em
”
i n the fo re s t
F i nally sh e slep t an d A rth u r s at q u iet an d full
H ow di ff e ren t i t al l w as f rom E ng
o f wonde r
l and ! Wh at a Strange l i fe an d w h at s t r ange
p eople !
A f a r away c ry c ame ove r the h ill s an d h e
a roused h imsel f a b ru ptly
”
“
N aya h e s ai d i t i s you r fathe r I th i nk !
”
H is lou d H alloo w as answe red rep eatedly the
s oun d coming nea re r and nea re r an d almost be
fo re she knew i t N aya w as in he r father s a rm s
”
“
B a b y ch il d ! B a b y ch il d ! he repeated agai n
an d again c l a s p i ng he r a s i f h e woul d never let
h e r go
M eanwh ile Dougal recounte d to A rth u r h ow
th ey h ad been f rom h ome all day i n the no rthern
h ills an d H ann ah th inking the ch il d ren h ad
j oi ned them h ad e x p erienced no al a rm ove r thei r
ab s en c e T h e tw o men rode i n at n ight f al l
j u s t a s t h e ri d er l e ss h o r s e s c r o ss ed the rive r an d
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72
A STO R Y O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
th ei r agon i z e d an x iety d u ri n g th ei r t h ree h ou r s
Sea rch m ay wel l be i m agine d T h ey h ad led tw o
f re s h ho r s e s wi th them an d p l u ngin g i nto th e
d a r k wate rs th e p a rty soon eme rge d u pon the
bl ac k ened an d deva s tate d pl ai n I t l ay va s t an d
s til l i t s flowe re d tapes t ry a th in g o f yes te rd ay
an d u n d e r th e wan s h een o f th e newl y r is en moon
i t ap pea re d a s th e b i tte r, t ra g ic wate r s o f a D ea d
S ea H ere an d th ere s lun k t h e g au nt s h a d ow s o f
c oyote s th at h a d retu rned to fee d on th e c h a rre d
rem ain s of th ei r les s for tu n ate fel low s
D es p i te th ei r th ankful an d rel ieve d h ea r ts th e
r i d e h om e w as d is p i rite d an d s i len t N aya w as
so e xh a u s te d th at Will i am l i fted he r to h i s ho r s e
an d l eap i n g to a s eat be h i n d th e h igh c an tl e o f
th e ol d S p an i s h s ad d le hel d h e r w i th one h an d
an d gu i d e d wi th th e oth e r
F o rt u n ately th e g r eat i ron g ra y R aj a h rea l
i z e d th at i t w as an oc c a s ion fo r m agn an im i ty
an d d e c ent beh avio r an d a cc e p te d h i s loa d wit h
p ati en c e
T h ei r a r rival at m i d n i g h t fo u n d t h em so s p en t
th at th e wai ting H ann ah aske d few questions bu t
d i recti ng D o ug al to th e b roth an d bi sc u i ts s h e
h a d p re p a re d Sh e u n d re ss e d t h e l i ttle gi rl an d
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73
N A YA
l ai d he r i n th e s nowy l i nen of th e l ittle p ine bed
“
”
I t i s the heaven s ai d the c h il d so f tl y ki s s ing
th e moth erly h an d th at ban daged he r a rm
A f te r a cup of b roth sh e f ell into a deep s leep
but soon awakened moaning wi th p ai n an d
f eve r an d H ann ah an d he r f athe r di d not su r
ren de r her to Dougal s ca re u nti l sh e w as fin ally
quiet and th e morn ing s tar gl immered p alely
th rough th e trees
.
2
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C H A PT E R V I
— y—l ike Apri l s n o w
Th ey wa s te
In th w a rm n oo n w e sh rink away ;
A n d f a s t th ey follo w a s w e g o
To wa r d th s e ttin g da y
Ti ll the y sh a ll fil l th l a n d a nd w e
d ri ven in to th W e tern s ea
A
us
a
e
,
,
e
e
B RYA NT—A n
re
e
I n di a n
at
th e B u
,
s
r ial
.
-
Pl a ce
f H is F a th ers
o
.
T he lovely S umm er L a d y h a d van i s hed with
t h e swallow s to i dle u n de r s ap ph i re s kie s i n th e
l an d of ol ive an d j e s sami ne b ut the f ragrance o f
he r s weet s ou l an d h e r flow e r strewn robe s l in
e re d i n th e s o ft O c tobe r ai r l i k e d ream m u s ic
g
i n the memo ry The cottonwood s an d po pla r s
we re to rche s o f p u re p ale gol d s tream i ng sky
wa rd an d he re an d there s pl a s hes of c rimson
spoke from th e rive r sho re o r the d u n colo re d
b l u ffs F a r to the south the bloomless pl ai ns
al rea d y s ettli ng to th ei r winte r sleep d ri fted to
th e h o rizon u nde r a fil m o f fai nte s t l aven d e r
B u t i n t h e h ou s e o f th e C i r c l e A rrow R an c h
i t w as a s i f S p ri ng d ance d on th e h il l tops
N aya was well a g ain
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75
N AYA
“
I
h a ng my ha rp o n a w ee p ing w i llo w tree
A n d m ay th e w o r ld go w e ll w i th thee e e
’
ll
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joyou s ly sc reeched the new h i red gi rl i n the
kitchen a s sh e b anged the dishes in the S ink
H ann ah b ent ove r a l i ttle omelet on the stove
“
I n anothe r week you an d you r weep ing wil
low t ree wil l go b ack to Win d R ive r sh e
thought grimly wincing un de r the di sc o rdan t
din
“
Lo r m a m i f i t ai n t th at young spa r k f rom
”
p a s ranch
Whe reat the excited song bi rd wiped her
h an ds o n th e rolle r towel and rush ing to th e l i ttle
m i rro r by th e wi ndow b egan to pull at her tousle
With a fu rtive gl ance at
o f dus ty bl ack h ai r
H annah she Spat on h er eye b row s an d p inched
he r al ready bu rsti ngl y re d cheek s i n a d ete r
m i nation to be b eauti f ul wh atever th e means o r
cost H annah waived severity i n consi deration
o f th e pending b anishment
an d O b served with
amusement th e frantic p rel imin aries o f the Win d
R ive r b elle O n h er way to the milk house
b uilt over a Sp ring at the foot o f th e b utte she
met the conquering hero H e was a b ronze
f aced young s te r o f twenty an d wo re h is cow
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76
N AYA
wh ich awaited him fo r w as not thi s coun
t ry o f de s ol ation devoi d o f even b i rd s i n the
b ushes ? We re th ere not a hund red cow punche r s
sc atte red on ranch and range to one gi rl singi ng
i n th e kitchen ? E ven a f acile heavy b eau ty
f rom Wi nd R iver was b ette r th an nothing he
deci ded ; b ut p a rtly to to rment p a rtly b ecau s e
h e wa s real ly anxious to see the chi l d the news
o f who s e illness had torn
ac ross the c ountry
faste r th an the fi re he deli b erately pa ss ed the
ki tchen win dow an d went a roun d to the s ittin g
room doo r Wi th a cou rtesy and fine feeling
th at contra s ted sh a rply wi th h is reckless reputa
ti on he awai ted H annah s c om ing an d they
mounted the steps together
The strangely beauti f ul room was flooded wit h
sunsh i ne an d N aya i n a l ittle w rap pe r o f warm
red sat b y the window wi th an open b oo k on he r
k nee T h e po rcup i ne l ay to rp i d on the sill an d
he r i n s ep a ra b le Sh adows S ah k e e an d Tweed
snuggle d for the b est p l ace on the f u r rug close to
h er f eet The inte rm ittent b ut ravaging f ever o f
the p ast th ree months h ad l i f ted the su nb row n
f rom h er del i c ately featu red f ace an d le f t i t a
dusky c ream with a touch o f glowi ng autumn
tu ni ty
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78
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A STORY O F THE B IG HORN CO U NTRY
l ea f u nde r the sweet d a rk eye s The glo riou s
h ai r, wh i ch h ad been m i racu lo u s ly Sp a red f el l
ove r he r s ho u l d er s an d th e a rm o f th e great
c h ai r p u r p le b l ack i n th e s h adow wi th gl ints
Sh e was
o f b ronze whe re the s un touched it
p l ayi n g wi th i t a b sen tly d i p pi ng h e r h an d s i n to
th e soft dep ths an d l i fti ng th e st rands unti l th ey
s ep a rated an d cobwe bb ed again s t the s un B u t
h e r though ts we re not of h e r h ai r S he loo k e d
a t the book wi th eyes f ul l o f s adness an d won de r
”
“
Wh at i s i t ? a s ked H ann ah p recedin g Len
w i t h th e t ra y
“
“
M aggie Tu l l i v e r She m u rm u red M a g gie
”
Tu l l iv e r
“
N o si r the l ady is unknown to the s e p a rts
“
s ai d L en s howe ri ng he r wi th h is o ff e ri ng I t s
th e O l d S ou th M e e ti n House an d Pow d e r R ive r
”
s h rubbe ry
Sh e c augh t at the flyi ng sc a rlet leave s an d t h e
zi z z ag o f o l d B oston l andm a rks with an exp res
sion o f del igh t fo r despi te h is b elonging to an
othe r ranch she an d the young cow pu nche r
we re fas t f riends O ne d ay he h ad a c ci den tally
come u pon he r at a s p ring t ryi ng to p l aste r wi th
mu d a rattl esn ake b ite o n poo r Pi g eon s swollen
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79
N A YA
leg an d h i s e fli ci e nt ai d ha d won h er l a s tin g
grati tu de an d a ff ection
”
“
H ow most p ret ty Len
s he e x cl aimed , i t
was kin d to you to come so f a r O h H annah y ou
d a rling you knew th at I am as a l i ttle wol f for
h unge r and coul d no t wai t u nti l the dinne r O h
th e omelet wh ich woul d fly a s a f eathe r to the
—
—
wi n d an d m ilk and ap rico t ta rt
M e l i kee
”
me l i ke e She en ded i n glee f ul imitation o f o l d
”
“
H igh B i nde r as the cow punche r s called S ee
Y u p the b unk house cook H annah p ut the
t ray on a s m al l tabl e at N aya s el b ow and left h e r
to Len whom th ey all knew an d tru s ted not
wi th standing h i s wild h al f desperado rep utation
”
“
H e s a scal awag of the fi rst water sai d ol d
H ar twell o f T ri angle a week since when he an d
“
Will i am met on th e b eef roun d u p
H e s been
to C heyenne on a d
tea r an d h e h a s such a
f e tch i n w ay th at he d ragged h al f the othe r b oys
along I hea r h e got into a sho oti n m atch over
a gi rl an d put the other f el le r ou t of commission
f o r a month o f S undays B u t an honester cuss
I ve never seed and he s th at wi ll in an d th at
cap a b le th at when h e come b ack I j u s t took h im
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80
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A STO RY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
’
i n agai n a s i f h e d been to Su n d ay sc hool a b e
”
b avi n h i s self
H e c e rtai nly bo re th at s to ry no r e s embl an c e
to da y H i s th ic k b rown h ai r wa s th e cl imax o f
all th at i s s moo th an d Sh i ny th i s reall y m a rvelous
fe at h avi ng been accomp l i s he d i n a remote co r
ne r o f the bunk hou s e with the a i d o f a fine tooth
”
“
c omb an d th e s h i p s h ai r b ru s h H i s blue flan
nel s h i rt w as Sp ick an d s p an a s w as the red s il k
h an d k e r c h ie f knotte d a roun d h is ne c k an d h i s
young h a z el eye s wo re an exp ression o f almos t
c h il dl i k e content a s h e d eftly m ade a w reath of
th e a u tum n l eave s fo r N aya s h ai r an d talke d
abou t th e mu d fl ats o f R eve re
“
Th ey ai n t j us t mu d al l the time you know
B y an d by th e ti d e come s i n an d then i t s l ike a
b a y an d w h en i t s d ark an d them l ight s i s on t h e
p oi n t th e re I tel l you i t s jus t r u mmy A n d th e
”
Smell ! G osh al l fish hook s ! E xcu s e m e h e
s ai d redden ing to th e d omai n o f the Sh i ny h ai r
“
”
bu t i t i s aw f ul ni ce an d h i s eu logy ende d
s omew h at l amely
“
”
W h at is th e ti de ? questioned N aya eyei ng
t h e growing c h aplet as She gul ped he r m i lk an d
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N A YA
ate he r ap ri cot ta rt wi th the appeti te o f con
v al e sci n
c
h
il
dhood
g
“
Well you se e the o l d oce an j ust ti p s an d s p i ll s
over l ike a w ate ri n trough i n a fit He re s yo u r
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bonne t
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N o you a rrange i t to my head s ai d N aya
looki ng u p wi th h er deep lovely gaze
He let the w reath f all t ryi ng not to tou c h h e r
h ai r he knew no t why and a s he tu rne d away
h e s aid to hi msel f
I guess you ve s p reed bou t long eno u gh,
Len Do u glas you good fo r nothing son
I gu e s s you re h itti n th e trail f o r h
as f as t a s
you c an go and i t s time you was pu tti n on th e
”
b rakes
J u s t th en th e doo r opened an d Will i am
ente re d
“
”
H el lo L en h e s ai d sl app ing the yo u n g
cow punche r o n the b ack
S ee Y u p wanted m e
to give you a p ackage f o r h im tu rn ing to N aya
“
bu t I tol d h im to b ring i t h imsel f C ome i n
”
Yu p
The C h ine s e cook s tood i n the d oo rway h i s
yellow moon face and almon d eyes gri nning
del i gh t wi th th e wo rl d i n general and h im s el f i n
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83
A STORY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTRY
”
“
p a r ti c u l a r H e h ad u ncoi le d h i s l a ri at a s
the boy s called i t an d i t now p i g tai led almost to
h i s h eel s i n a th in s ti ff b ra i d I n s tea d of h i s
u s u al w h i te a p ron h e wa s a rrayed i n ele g an t c a l l
in g c o s tu me c onsi s ti n g of a roun d bl a c k h at
abo u t tw o s i z es too sm al l fo r h im an d a loo s e
s leeved s h i rt a ff a i r th a t N aya i n s e c ret emba r
rassme nt and s ym p athy alway s f el t h e h a d neg
l e cte d to tu c k i n
“
M e no pl i tty M e l i can pl e se nts M e s en d ee
—
S an F l i sco bl oth e e l ittle sh O p
N o vel ly
”
n i ce e
and he h an ded th e c h i l d a pa c k age f rom
wh i c h fell an e x q u i s i te s i lken fan i ts s ti c k s o f
c reamy ivo ry c a rved an d f rette d i n to a sem
bl an c e o f ol d l ace O n one s i de wa s emb roi de red
a l i ttle A s i atic g a r d en ; a ti ny b r own p a go d a fe s
toone d wi th W i s te ri a a row of p u r p le i ri s and
a go rgeo u s peaco c k w h ile a lean in g c h e r ry tree
s howere d all wi th i ts d el i c ate p i n k p etal s
”
“
“
O h ! s h e b r eath ed i n ra p tu re one feels th e
”
—
win d to blow th e p etal s A n d th i s ! an d S h e
s l i p p e d t h e l i ttle b ra c elet of j ade ove r h e r h an d
“
H ow m o s t s weet to y ou S ee Y u p to so re
mem be r me I m a k e a h at b an d o f so p retty
”
b ea d s M ay I a r r an ge i t to you r h at ?
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N AYA
M u ch e e th an k s , m u ch e e th an k s h e k ept t e
i
e
a
t
n
a
in
ec
s
tasy
s
She
f
a
s
tened
th
e
b
righ
t
s
tri
p
p
g
“
a roun d the c rown , to day ketch u m heap goo d
j elly c ake C low pu nch e e l ike em heap
I
”
and o ff h e went i n the l ittle round h at
b l i nge e
wi th it s i ncongr u ou s I ndi an fi ne ry, b l i ss p l ainly
emanati ng from every featu re
“
The gene ro u s fellow really th in k s he is i n
”
debted to you rema rked her fathe r examin in g
th e bea u ti f ul an d ra re em b roide ry
”
“
Well s o lon g s ai d L en w h o u n p erceive d ,
h a d h a rdly taken h is eyes from th e graciou s l ittl e
being i n th e ch ai r an d b e f ore th ey knew i t h e
was gone ,
”
“
Y e s h i s th o u g h t s contin u ed a s h e too k h i s
w ay th rough th e co ttonwood s toward the s ta b le ,
“
never on c e gl ancing ki tchenwa rd i t s about
ti me yo u p rie d O pen you r b l inke r s and d ried
—
u p on th e wh i s ky que s tion an d a few ot h e r
”
th ings
“
Will ye no b e b avi n a b ite w i tha fou ks a
”
th a h oo s e ? que s tioned Do u gal w h o now rode
i nto the c o rral , accomp anied b y A rthu r
“
N ope got to v amoo s e O l d H a rtvve l l s b een
t
o
h
i
s
p
ea
s
h
ooter
i
t
s
a
S
weet
v
e
n
t
w
i
m
i
n
r
t
v
y
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p
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84
NAYA
hel p you out H ave h im do you r c leaning an d
b rea d making I wil l s peak to him
A S A rth u r s at at the dinne r table n arrating th e
morn ing s adven tu re s h i s uncle recalled the
wo rd s o f the obse rvant Dougal s poken a f ew
d ay s afte r th ei r a rrival f rom E ngland
“
K e n ye th a lines o f O l iver H olmes o f M ass a
ch u se tts ?
I d rath e r be a b righ t h ai red b oy
th an reign a gray b ea rd k ing
I m a th i nk i n
o n em each time I look at yon l ad
H e s shu re
green as sp ring grass b u t h e s got tha gri t o f a
Texas stee r an d a gude hert Th at s th a p ri nci
p al th ing a gude h ert J u s t be c ause h e hea rd
th a leetle wan a calli n a f te r her butterflies i n
he r f eve r nae th i n wu d do b ut he m aun roon
h imsel most to d e i th down th ere among the wil
—
lows an m ilkweed ah captu red n a ry a one
Why h e asked me yesterday i f Pi geon is W h a
is called cl ay f rost color and wh en I sai d roan
h e looked th at astonished and then h e wanted
to know i f tende rfoot is s ome kin d o f a d i s ea s e
an d i f people c ome to Wyoming to g et c u r e d
”
s ame a s fo r loong tribble W hereat th e bi g
”
“
S cot c hman h ad roa red wi th l augh ter
B ut
“
he h ad added he i s l e rni n to Sw i m l ike a
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86
,
A STO RY O F THE B IGHORN C O U NTR Y
I tell ye an d i s a be co mi n th at s k i l ly w i
th a ho r s e s th at th a boys a re all ta en to i m fine
A rth u r h ad certainly ch ange d s ince the mem
o rab l e an d dis a s trous day o f the p rai rie fi re
The fai r E n g l ish comp lexion h ad given way to
ru ddy su n b u rn an d he h ad grown both i n Stat
u re and sel f assu rance I n consi de ration o f h is
p ru den t n atu re an d th e recen t f ou rteenth b i rth
d ay Wi ll i am h ad p re s en ted h im wi th a si x
s hooter holste r c a rtri dge bel t an d al l wh ic h
now fo rmi d a b ly top p ed the Levi S trauss ove r
al ls he h ad s el ected f rom the p ile i n th e sto re
house wh i le h is p li able S tets on w as ga rn i s hed
with s n ake rattl e s troph ies o f pe rson al e nco u n
ters wi th th a t s ini s te r i nh a b i tant o f the pl ai ns
“
Now de f enseless and f ragi le c reatu re h e
b egan i n a d i rge l ike voi ce when th e tw o chil
“
d ren were fin ally alone i n th e house I m J a c k
S l ade an d you a re i n my powe r S ee thi s gu n ?
B ewa re I can a l m os t h i t a ta rget on c e ou t o f
”
ten time s Do come o u t he a dded i n h i s n at
“
u ral voi c e fo r i t is lovely an d wa rm an d I l l
”
s p read th i s f u r th ing righ t i n th e su n
”
“
“
Yes sh e assente d ea g erly
u nde r th e tree
—
o f f all in g leaves
I will ta k e th e b eads an d
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N AYA
oh ,
b y an d by wh at f u n to m a k e t h e c h ocol ate
to a l i ttle twig fi re
A f ter H annah s dep a rtu re s h e h ad fa s tened a
wh ite plume i n he r h ai r an d th rown a tangle o f
ki nniki nic b e rrie s a round he r ne c k S he now
ran to a b ig wooden b ox wi th a h inge top wh ich
covered with an I nd i an rug fo rmed a s eat be
fo re the rive r windows C a re f ully l i f ting and
exam in i ng i ts f ol ded trea s u res sh e finally chose
a ro b e o f doeskin exqu isi tely l ined wi th the
pl u mage o f th e wh i te s wan and th rowing i t
ove r he r shoulde rs went ou t i nto the sunshi ne
Wh ile A rth u r shot at th e m a rk sh e sat unde r
the s p readin g cottonwood wo rki ng wi th he r
b righ t b eads and p ausing now an d then to
glance u pwa rd a s the p al e yel low leave s eddie d
gently downwa rd th rough th e s o f t qu iet a i r
”
“
There a re J im C a rve r an d h i s l ittle s ister
announced A rthu r p re s ently as a b ig clumsy
b oy o f sixteen f ollowed b y a timi d b lue eyed
ch il d i n to rn shoe s and an i mmen s e s un b onnet
ap pea red th rough th e tree s
O ne d ay not long befo re Will i am h ad s een
an ol d ti lting p rai ri e sc hooner l a b o ring over the
du s ty p lain with i t s u s u al a cc om p animent o f
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88
N AYA
sweet looks o f th e othe r b eca m e cu riously
ecl i psed an d insignifican t
“
C ome on J im and try my new revolver
s ai d A rth u r co rdially
A n hou r o r so p assed and they b egan m ak
ing th e chocolate ove r a tiny camp fi re N aya
went to th e hou s e and not only ferreted ou t
c akes an d goodies o f va rious kinds b ut also a
b undle o f clothes f o r the f o rlo rn looki ng l ittle
visi to r no t f orgetting to ad d the new shoe s
wh ich he r f athe r w as trying to su bs titute f o r the
b eloved moccas ins
The re you so sti ff l i ttle
demons and with the most reckless generosi ty
She rolled them s avagely i n t wo o f he r new nigh t
d resses
J im h ad b een wo rsted in the shooti ng m atc h
and f elt h ate f u l
M os t cooked s ai d N aya peep i ng i n the
steam ing chocol ate pot A rthu r mo re suga r
”
plea s e I thi nk
A nd he sped to the house
wh ere S ee Y u p on a cleani ng tou r del aye d
him fo r a f ew minutes
”
N aya i s a m igh ty f unny name o b se rved
J im wi th repell ant f amil i a ri ty
B u t i t i s not m y real n ame M y n ame is
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go
A STORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
”
M i ss Ca ch a to s e N ay atoh ta D un s m u i r She an
sw e re d c ol dly un awa re th at i t s oun ded somewh at
lon g an d i ncongruous
The boy roa red
”
“
M ine is I ch a b od Bu m psk y de B a r r he
s ai d
”
repl ied N aya ri s i n g
Yo u a re mo s t rude
to h e r f eet an d rega r d in g h im h aughtily
A w rat s wh at a i r s Y ou r moth e r w as a
s qu aw an d you r fathe r s a c ommon sq u aw m an
Why you re nu th i n b u t a h al f b reed I nj u n
—
Look at th e c h i c ken feath e r s i n you r
bu t h e
neve r fin ished fo r A rthu r h u r ryin g f rom th e
ho u s e h ea rd t h e in s u l ti n g wo rds and letti ng
th e suga r bowl f all wi th a c rash j um p e d at h im
l ike a tige r H is h ands clu tched th e aston ish ed
J im s th roat an d h i s knee s b ange d i n to h i s s tom
ach with such fo rce th at down th ey wen t rol l
ing ove r an d ove r i n the l eave s an d d i rt wh ile
B e ss i e s h rieked an d s obbed wi th f ri g h t and
N aya becom ing s u d denly fai n t d rop pe d l imp ly
“
to th e gro u nd
A rth u r s h e trie d to c al l bu t
he r voice w as weak an d powe rle ss
”
“
—
You you pup py y ou c owa r d
s ho u ted th e
yo u ng wa rrio r f rom C li fd ale g ri p p i ng and
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9!
NAYA
p oun d in g wit h s u c h ene r gy an d s pee d t h at h i s
“
vi c tim s s up erio r s i ze cou nted fo r noth ing B eg
he r pa rdon an d I l l qu i t
”
Y e s came th e muffl ed an s we r and A rth u r
let h im u p
”
I b eg p a rdon he g rowled b l ac k wi th rage
and cove red wi th dust an d b lood fo r h i s no s e
was b leeding he i nglo riously retreated wh en c e
he came th e s obbing B es si e trotting be h in d
h im
B ess ie c ome b ack Y ou r th ing s calle d
A rthu r bu t th e ch i ld neithe r tu rned no r repl ie d
Y ou r f ace is most s c ratched an d I h ave ove r
Spilled the chocolate sai d N aya an d lookin g
at each othe r they b egan to l augh
A s it was a long h a rd d rive to B u ffalo H an
n ah and Dougal were not e x pecte d until th e
following d ay an d i t was ove r S ee Y u p s su p
p e r o f ri ce cakes an d d ri ed p rune s th at Will i am
hea rd o f th e a f te rnoon s confli ct I t was the fi r s t
time N aya h ad b een su b j ected to i n s ul t on ac
count o f he r I ndi an p a rentage an d h is hear t
was so re wi th i n h im They s ai d good n igh t to
th e b eaming C elesti al an d s lowly strolled towa r d
the house on the rive r
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92
N AY A
enderly le f t he r to Tweed and the s ilvery s pl ash
o f th e water f all
H e r min d b e c ame a con f u s ion of fall ing
leaves and the rive r tu rned to chocol ate and
b lue b eads L ots o f b lue ones ; A rthu r l ikes
them b est S ee Yu p s i s red wi th wh ite sta rs
Tweed growled an d she s ta rted u p f rom th at
del icious fi rst d rowsi ness
“
H u sh Tweedie j ust a coyote
H e certainly was a horri d b oy Why shoul d
he l augh b ecau s e h er mothe r wa s an I ndi an ?
B eau ti f ul mothe r gathering gol den rod up
the re o n the h i ll L isten ! I t is a mou rning dove
A n d the Sleepy images b egan agai n Poo r M ag
gie Tu l l i v e r The distant s trains o f music al
ways floated away an d she coul d h ea r them no
longe r E veryth ing b eauti f ul was j ust b eyond
A rthu r w as out there now b eating th e horri d
b rothe r Tom S erved h im right
There was a su dden swish o f wind i n the
trees an d h eavy rai n d rops b rushed the p anes
S he b ecame wi de awake once mo re an d cuddled
u nde r th e cove rs i n h er so f t cotton flannel nigh t
d res s fo r it h ad become much colder S udden
l y Sh e s aw M aggie s p ale dead f ace looking at
t
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94
A STORY O F
TH E
B IGHORN CO U NTRY
h er from deep waters an d sh e Shu ddered wi th
n amele s s d read wh il e the s to rm to rtu red tree s
twi s te d and mo aned an d the rai n b egan to pou r
down in Sheets
I am mo s t f ool ish I wi ll read a l ittle as
fathe r does th en the Sleep w i ll come s ai d
N aya aloud an d sh e resolu tely l i t he r c an dle
Th rowi ng a sh awl a roun d he r shoul de r s sh e
reached fo r a b ook on the l i ttle ta b l e at he r si d e
“
I t w as J ane E y re an d sh e knew i t almos t b y
hea rt bu t open i n g a t random Sh e w as soon ah
so rb ed I t was a n un f o rtun ate page
“
B u t i t was no t f ated th at I shoul d sleep th a t
ni gh t A d ream h a d sca rcely ap p roached my
ea r when i t fled a ff righ ted sca red b y a m a r
row f reezing i nci dent enough
Tweed
ie
(
—
hush ) Thi s w as a demon i ac l augh l ow su p
—
p ressed and d eep u tte red as i t s eemed at the
ve ry keyhole o f my ch ambe r doo r Th e h ea d o f
my b ed was nea r th e doo r an d I though t at fi rst
—
th e gobl i n l augh te r Stood at my bed s i de o r
rath e r c rouched b y my p i llow ; b u t I rose looked
a rou nd and could se e noth ing ; wh ile as I sti ll
gazed the unn atu ral soun d w as rei te rated ; an d
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95
N A YA
I knew i t came f rom b eh in d the p anels
”
S omething gu rgled an d moaned
A s sh e read these te rri f ying words s h e gl anced
quickly towa rd the wi ndow and h er blood
s eemed tu rned to snow A da rk Sin i ster f ace
was p re s sed against th e p ane glowering at h er
wi th wil d eyes F o r one f righ t f ul moment the
s avage vision hel d he r then as Tweed Sp rang
b e tween them sh e smothered the candle wi th
he r b ook and i n u nutterable terro r fled to her
f ath er s room
”
“
F ather f athe r sh e c ried th rowi ng her s el f
“
—
they come the I n di ans O h do not
on h im
let them take me Do not ! Do not !
“
Poo r ch il d h e answered ris ing an d f um
b l i ng f o r the m atches you h ave overdone agai n
an d th e m isera b le f eve r h as retu rned My poo r
poo r b a b y
“
“
No ! N o ! sh e sob b ed not m a k e a l igh t
H ea r Tw e e d i e l A so d read f u l face w as to the
win dow I read wi th my candle and s aw i t
He r manne r was so convincing that with a
heavy hea rt h e covered he r in h is b ed an d
sl i pp ing on h i s c lothe s i n the da rk went to the
si tting room
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96
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U N T RY
H e l i t t h e l am p an d h e s itate d refle c ting b e
fo re the gu n rac k
”
I f it i s they conci l i ation is th e only metho d
h e de c i ded an d u n a rm ed wen t o u t i nto the
s to rm
”
“
W h o i s t h e re ? h e c alle d
T h ree I n di an s c ame a roun d th e h ou s e an d
h al ted i n the p ath o f l igh t th at s treamed f rom
th e open d oo r Tw o Stil l s at on thei r d ri p p i n g
pon ies wh il e th e th i r d s tal k e d ba reheade d i n th e
sto rm
“
”
E n te r s on s o f Cri ste coom sa i d Wi ll i am i n
“
B l a c kfoot i t i s th e b ig s to rm o f the fall i ng l ea f
1
time Dos t th ou hunt the o u a ca se e ?
T h ey gru nted a cu rt negative an d h el d a l ow
voiced consultation ; then tyi ng t h ei r pon ie s to
the fi r s apl ings o f th e po rch th ey followe d Wi l
l i am in s ilence A ves tige o f fi re fl icke red i n th e
great stone fi repl ace an d w h i le h e h eape d on
th e wood Will i am won de re d i f th ey knew h e
wa s alone wi th tw o chil d ren an d th at the bu n k
hou s e wa s way beyond th e grove o f cottonwoods
”
“
“
B i g s to rm h e repeated c h ee rfully I wi ll
cal l a m an to p r e p a re foo d an d be d s I t i s lon g
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1
D eer
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97
,
N A YA
ke
mote s kin na
since we hunted the
2
o n o lz a h
t
h
b
y
Lake
o
f
the
Dying
F
ace
I
e
p
”
gr e et my red b roth ers with joy
I n n u y a ne se e ch i ppe c og u e a h tose
b riefly
assented the one add ressed i gno ring the last
p art o f the co rdi al s peech
They were power f ul wa rriors wi th eye s l ike
eagles Desp i te the rain b eaten f o rlornness o f h is
f eathe red headd ress and b uckskin f ringe I ron
Ho rn ap pa rently the ol dest an d the leade r o f
the p arty stood i n the leaping fi re l i gh t a
supe r b rep resentative o f a p assing race The
tw o young b ucks remained a l ittl e to the rea r
s ilen t and erect wrap ped clo s ely in thei r d ri p
ping b l ankets o f green an d scarlet thei r c oa rse
b l ack h ai r wh ich gl i ttered with rai n d rops
h anging l ank and wet a b ou t thei r swa rthy f aces
B e seated I woul d smoke wi th my b rothe rs
f rom the No rth an d Willi am reached f o r the
p i pestone calumet th at hung over the fi replace
We neithe r S i t no r smoke i n the m o e e s e o f
an enemy s aid I ron H o rn with c old digni ty
M ix
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2
3
4
Ir on
Th e
Elk
H
o rn
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lo ng fi fty moo n s
W i g wa m
“
It
is
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”
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98
NAYA
A ssi ni b oins th e Dak o tah s th e C rees they we re
as squaws an d ch il dren i n o u r h ands N ow all
is ch anged The na pi q u a n ki lls ou r e n e u h We
sta rve They give u s a l ittle l an d I t is b a re
Th e e ne u h a re gone They give us food so
much a day as to dogs O u r young men rot wi th
na h h e e o h h e e
an d in dolence O u r n ation is
b roken as the b ack of the po no lz a h Who h a s
done this ? The na pi q u a n
A nd he glowe red
wi th s avage f u ry
Willi am h ardly l istened to th is bu r s t o f f a
n ati e eloquence H e was th inking o f N aya an d
o f wh at he
ought to do
C oncil i ation was
hopeless
A f te r a moment s s ilence the I ndi an con
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ti nu e d
.
“
Thou a rt a a a pi q u a n Thou di d s t take ou r
royal m ai den F i f teen times h ad th e M oon o f
F lowers touched he r h ai r I t was b l ack I t
shone as th e wing o f th e raven Th e m igh ty
Pe e toh pe e ki ss gav e her to t h ee
W h en C ris
te coom c a l l s h e r sh e mu s t l ie w i t h h e r fat h ers
i n the l an d of t h e Gre at R i ve r T h at R u n s S wi ft
ly
The m igh ty Pee toh pe ek i ss h as s ai d i t
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11
Wh i sky
.
I OO
STORY
A
TH E
OF
B I GHO RN CO UNT RY
H e h a s c ro ss ed th e G reat R ive r Wu n n e s tou
i s c h ief We are h i s me ss en g er s E e h ni sk i m
wa s c alle d forty moons ago Tho u d i d s t not
tell u s H e command s th at th ou Show us he r
grave T h i s wil l c a r ry h e r s ac re d bones to the
”
G reat R ive r Th at R u ns S wi ftly
Will i am Sh u dde red as h e gl anced at th e bu c k
skin b ag the I ndi an d rew f rom u n de r h i s s tri ped
b l anket
“
S he w as a gi f t of Cri ste coom an d the m igh ty
Pe e toh pe e k i ss I give he r not to the I n di an
he repl ied col dly
The young buc k s d rew nea re r an d there w as
an ominous silence
“
Then w e wi ll take the ch i l d Ca ch a tose
N ay atoh ta I t i s th e dec r ee of Wu n ne S tou so n
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Pe e toh pe e k i ss
of
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I keep my ch il d I t is the fin al wo r d o f
T ch a ae s sa ko mah pee to Wu n nes tou The
red men h ave f a r to go I t is wel l th at th ey
”
lose no time an d open ing wi de the doo r h e
s too d in h augh ty s ilence wa i ting fo r th em to go
.
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T h ey we re s o a s toni s h ed at h i s c o u rage an d
1
Th e Be a r
’
s Chi ld
.
10 1
NA YA
.
qui c k d e c i s ion and so momenta rily over c ome
b y the f o rce o f h is pe rsonali ty th at h a rdly know
ing wh at they d id th ey filed p a s t him i n to th e
n ight
H as tily b ol ting the heavy sl a b doo r Willi am
sei zed h is si x shoote r and exti ngu ishi ng the
l igh t hu rried to his room
”
N aya he sai d so f tly b ut there w as no an
swe r Then he f el t h is way to the b ed an d put
ou t h is hand b ut i t wa s empty
G ood G od
we re th e re mo re ? he though t J us t th en a
b lu r o f wh ite ap pea red i n th e doo rway lead
i ng to he r room
“
I di d hea r sh e wh ispered
I di d peek b y
”
—
th e doo r i n my room Yo u you sca red them
“
and sh e gave a little hyste rical giggle
Wi ll
th ey Shoot b y the window s ?
N o no d a rl ing let f ath e r cover you There
”
it is all right F athe r is here
H e r teeth were ch attering wi th col d and
ne rvou s ne ss
”
C ome y ou not also to bed ?
“
I am not sleepy J u s t close l i ttle eyes an d
don t talk Hol d fa s t to my h an d and the s an d
”
m an will come I t i s all ri gh t
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10 2
,
C H A PT E R VI I
oa r ds a fter hoa r ds h i s r i s i ng r a ptu re s fil l
Y t s ti ll h e s i g hs fo r ho a r ds a re wa n ti ng s ti ll
GOLDS M IT H —Th T
H
,
e
,
e
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ra v e l e r
.
A wee k l ate r O ld H a rtwell sat i n h i s ofli ce
po ring over accounts I t was a l ittle room an d
s tamped wi th an a i r of d iso rder an d neglect
S c raps o f d ry mu d were scattered over the u n
even b oa rd floo r and the scanty cheap fu rnitu re
struggled p i ti f ully wi th decrep i tude an d down
f all A s i f to avenge a b use an ol d so f a em i tted
i ts unwholesome looking stu fli ng in great b ulges
leaving a series o f defiant ri dges to torment the
repose o f i ts persecuto r I t was loosely covered
wi th wo rn B ru s sels ca rp et the design o f mon
s trous flau nti ng roses now sc arcely disce rn i b le
The b attered win dow Sh ade h ung al l askew an d
a f rayed rent i n o ne co rne r gave i t the com ical
appea rance o f winki ng at you confidenti ally as
“
i f to s ay We re on to O l d G ra b an d H ang to
I t ai n t we ? Won t even h ave c ream for b reak
f ast an d soon he ll b e under th e so d Wise ol d
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104
A STO RY O F THE B IGHORN C O U NTRY
—
L ots o f em h a ?
’
’
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fool ai n t he ?
A n d the
joco s e cu rtai n chuckled on th rou gh the n igh t s
an d day s
O l d G rab an d H ang to I t ce rtai nly d i d no t
b elieve i n p al ati al house fu rnish in g no r i n ta b le
luxu rie s ei th e r f o r a s he once re s pon ded to a
ce rtai n tim i d sugge s tion of the d ru dge he
ca l le d wi fe I tel l you M a ri a th e re a i n t no
money i n b avin milk an d c ream an d b u tte r an d
all th at tra s h C on den s ed s tu ff i s goo d enou gh
fo r th is ranch an d mi gh ty l i ttle o f th at too an d
a s fo r a new roc k e r f o r th e s e tti n room I c oul d
b uy a c al f fo r th at p rice I n fou r yea r s i t wou l d
weigh t twelve hun d red i f an o u nce an d i f c at
tle keep s a rai s in I wo u l d net
an d he s ta rte d
o ff mutte ring h i s c ompu tation s
wh il e the w o
m an w h o h ad le f t th e s n u g l itt l e fa rm i n Oh io
with i t s peace an d p rim i tive pl en ty fo r the
b a rren riches o f C attle Lan d gaze d a fte r h i m
wi th ti red hopeless eye s A voi c e c ame to he r
f rom th e woods h e d
The r e i s a ta v ern in th town in th to wn
A n d there my tr u e l ov e s i ts h im do w n s i ts hi m d o w n
H e r exp re ss ion be c am e mo re d ee p ly wea ry
an d in s u d den col l ap s e sh e s an k to an em p ty
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10 5
.
N A YA
soap b o x which f o rmed p a r t o f th e si tting room
f u rn i tu re and cove ring her head wi th he r b lue
calico ap ron wep t b i tterly
B ut O l d H a rtwel l was not th inking o f this
scene so momenta rily annoyi ng H i s f ace w as
flu s hed wi th excitement and almos t s avage joy
E ight thousand i f th ere s a hoo f and next
”
“
yea r I can mos t dou b le em he though t M ust
h ang o n to th at young Dougl as f o r h e s the
b e s t l ine ri de r i n the outfit I f i t s only an open
winte r and he s pat copiously towa rd the sp it
toon wh ich he inva ri a b ly missed nine times out
o f ten
I f there was a deity he wo rshi ped a b ove
cattle i t w as good S ta r Pl ug chewing to b ac c o
and lo ts o f i t as w as am ply testified b y the i n
und ated con di tion o f h is grizzled b ea rd There
was someth ing a b solutely geographi cal a b ou t i t
with its wi de rivulets and mul titu des o f th i n
ni ng tri b u taries
“
Pa sa id D aisy at the doo r there is a
h
o f a racket goi n on i n the b unk house an d
I ll tell you just wh at i t is The b oys is all
d runk as lo rds and i t s L en Douglas th at s d one
i t f or I s een h im a cach in some th i n in the h ay
stack when h e come f rom town ye s terd ay an d
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10 6
N A YA
the growi ng d a rkness The desi re to get even
wi th L en f o r h is i ndi ff e rence was f ast losi ng its
edge f o r h e r f athe r s f ea r f ul ange r tol d her that
S he
sh e was somewh at ove r reaching he r p l ans
certainly di d not want L en to go away A sys
tem of reasoning as a b su rd as i t w as headlong
h ad f ounded the fi rm conviction th at once h er
fathe r h ad given hi m a good rating b e f o re h is
b rothe r cow punche rs h is hum il i ation woul d
m ake he r so secu re i n he r superio ri ty th at the
h andsome b oy woul d b e at h er f eet S he c rep t
Stealth ily to a win dow wh ile h er outraged p a r
ent went a roun d to the door
”
“
L andy ! sh e gasped as the riotous s cene i n
the b unk house met her eye
A di rty kerosene h angi ng l amp th rew a
b lu rred l igh t over th e great room with its fi f teen
o r tw enty b eds b anked along the walls
and on
the eigh t o r ten dish eveled votaries o f B acchus
most o f them i n thei r underclothes w h o were
ea rnestly engaged i n the f riendly occup ation o f
Shooting at each other s f eet and hu rli ng ch ai rs
at each othe r s heads L en s ti ll d ressed and
wi th h is wi de h at tilted on the b ack o f h is head
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10 8
A STO RY O F THE B IGHORN C O U NTRY
a table wh angi n g a b anj o in o ne key wh ile
h i s u p roa rio u s b a ri tone del ive red in another
Th w ind bl e w th n o e ff her fa ce
I t s ta rt e d w i th th w in d t r u n a r a ce
Gos h ! I t h it m e when t wa s g o i n su c h a pa ce
n os e s on my fa ce
Th a t n w I
g t tw
sa t on
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e
e
s
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A s H a r twell pu t h i s h ea d i n th e d oo r , a flying
ch ai r knocked h is h at o ff , j us t graz in g h i s hea d ,
an d s ome b u b bl in g m is c h ief m ake r t ri p ped h im
so th at h e s p rawl ed h eadlon g i n thei r m i ds t
They we re all youn gs te rs f rom ei gh teen to
twen ty fiv e an d were neither vi cious lookin g
no r vicious mean i ng bu t a l ittle wh isky an d
th ei r m ad frol icki ng h ad Stimu l ated thei r young
sp i ri ts until they b o rde red o n f ren z y
“
H u rrah fo r O l d G rab an d H an g to I t
“
”
shou ted one let s s tri ng h im to a ra f te r an d
h e se i zed a rop e an d began wh i rl i n g i t arou n d
h is head
S i lence ! thun dered H a r twell w h o h ad
pulled h imsel f u p an d was p ayi ng no attention
to th e bull ets p ri c k i ng th e b oa rd s abou t h i s
f eet
A t h is entrance L en h a d risen an d d ro p pe d
h i s b anj o bu t the gene ral u p roa r was u nab ate d
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10 9
N AYA
and the woul d be lyncher swung the lasso with
inc reased veloci ty
L en su ddenly sp rang i n
th ei r mi dst h is h azel eyes fi red wi th command
S hu t u p ! he b ellowed i n a voice th at woul d
—
h ave sent a rive r running b ackwa rds an d all
was qu iet S ome snickered as i f real i zing the ah
su rdi ty o f a shooting match i n such u nco nv e n
ti on al cos tume
others merely looked sullen
whi le a f ew seemed grave wi th real i zation
“
”
B etter apologi ze to M r H artwell s ai d L en
an d h e tu rned away i ndi ff erently B ut h e w as
seized violently b y the a rm
“
—
Y ou you son
gasped the ranchm an
h is f ace l ivi d wi th rage i t was you w h o b rough t
the whisky on to my ranch Y ou know well
enough th at it is f or b i d Wh at h ave you to say
f o r you rsel f ?
L en released h is a rm wi thou t rep lying A f te r
a f ew secon ds s ilence a b oy i n b righ t b lue u n
d e rd raw e rs and a b rushy mop o f red hai r
s tep ped f o rward with the dign i ty o f a diplom at
I t s l ike L en to take th e b l ame, b ut I gave
the b oys the wh isky I di dn t b ring i t to th e
ranch a pu rpose though Th is a f ternoon a b out
a m ile east I met B uck R edding who is hunt
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I IO
NAYA
they f ell b ack and h e conti nued i n the s ame low
controlled voice
“
I l l th ank you to give me my time M r
H a rtwell I leave wi thin h al f an hou r
There w as a mu rmu r o f dism ay among h is
b rothe r cow punchers and al l b egan d ressing
wh ile th e ai r was f ul l o f su b dued mutteri ngs
”
“
I f he goes I go too
Wouldn t h ave
worked fo r the ol d Skin i n the fi rst place i f he
”
“
h adn t such good ho rses
B e s t m an he s got
”
an d he d b ette r h ang onto h im
A n d O l d G ra b and H ang to I t su ddenly
p rov e d h imsel f wo r th y o f h is ti tle f o r even
insult an d th e luxu ry o f sl ash ing temp er an d
th e necess i ty o f hum b lin g h imsel f b efo re h is
men were as noth ing comp a red to h i s love of
gain
”
“
“
Well he sai d clea ring h is th roat We l l
talk i t ove r i n the morn ing L en We re b oth
a l ittle over b et an d w e d b ette r sleep on i t
B u t L en assu red h im he w as not over b et
and was so determined that the erstwh ile vol
cano walked hum b ly to the house an d wrote
Len s c heck
H al f o f the others 1! qu i t now
an d at th e though t o f the wi nte r Sto rm s an d the
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1 12
A STORY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
green men looking a f te r h i s great h e r d s H a rt
well gro aned alou d
S u ddenly a sob came f rom a room a b ove th e
—
I nstantly h is w rath re
i ce D aisy s room
ofl
“
tu rned
Th e lyi n hu z zy Wh at di d Sh e tel l
them l ie s fo r an d wh at in h
i s s he c ry i n
”
fo r ?
The i ntricate p roces s o f fem i n i ne ci rcu mv e n
tion an d reasoning is so i ncom p rehen s ible to th e
op posite sex i n gene ral th at i t is not to b e su p
posed th at this s p ecimen o b tuse i n al l m atte rs
excep t cattle an d money cou l d divine th at the
poo r l ittle fool wa s c ryin g ou t h e r hea rt because
sh e loved the ve ry m an sh e h a d c alumn i ate d an d
Sen t away
H artwell di d not wai t fo r Len to come to the
offi c e but s lowly m a d e h i s way towa r d th e
stable s
A t n igh tfall th e boys h ad t u rned th ei r ponie s
i n to a l a rge ci rcul a r co rral wh ich was walled o n
o ne s i de by a long low s h ed
U s u all y Len h a d
no di fli cu l ty i n catch ing h i s f ai th f u l C omet bu t
to n igh t a satanti c s pi ri t po ss e ss e d t h e w h ol e
bu nch Tw o h in d rance s i n th e gu ise o f h el pe rs
we re pe rched on the h i gh pole fence hold ing
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I I3
N AYA
alo f t thei r fl i c kering lante rns which cast fi t f u l
b l indi n g b eams ac ro ss the b a c k s o f the ru nn ing
ho rs es and i n the corne r s o f th e d a rk shed L en
i n thei r mi dst m ade o ne th row a f ter anoth e r h is
lasso h iss ing th rough the sh adow s l ike a sn ake
b u t hi s usually une rri ng aim wa s powe rle s s in
the treacherous l i gh t
The re we re per h aps
twen ty o f th e gleeful l ittle b rute s now dodging
thi s way now th at now h ud dl ing i n a co rner
wi th C omet b u ried deep i n thei r m i ds t only to
dash sno rti ng an d defiant p ast th e cluster o f
snu bb ing posts in the cente r an d into the dep ths
o f the shed again
S ay you fellows make you rselves sca rce and
put o u t them l ante rns s ai d L en c rossly and
when they di d as h e b ade he ente red the cor
ral a rmed on ly wi th a b ri dl e an d a h an d f ul of
s uga r wh ich he kept h i dden i n a sec ret niche
H e gave a cu rious li ttl e wh is tle
o f the s ta b le
I t w as evi dently f am il i a r to one o f th e now
qu iet and watch f ul b an d fo r the re wa s a sti r
an d an answe ring wh i nny an d by th e l i gh t o f
th e s ta rs a ho rs e was seen to trot fo rwar d S oon
“
Len w as receiving h is time and a s w as p rope r
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1 14
C H A PT E R VI I I
i s s w ee t t s ta mm er one l e tter
O f th E tern a l
l a ng u age —o n ea rt h i t i s c a l l ed
F o rg i v ene ss
BIS HOP TEGN ER (Tr a n sl a te d by L o ngfe llo w )
Th e C h i l d r e n of th e L o r d s S ppe r
Fo r t
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There ! The re ! M aster s good dog J us t
a minute now O pen h is mouth a b i t wi de r
”
Dougal
The s ette r kept h is eyes on Will i am s face
thei r exp ress ion o f deep p atience an d trust sh ad
owed wi th winci ng agony A t every tu rn of the
p inchers h e gave the tiny c ry o f a su ff eri ng ch il d
b u t he rem ained p a ss ive i n Dougal s grasp an d
the yellow b rown eye s never left his m aster s
f ace
Th ey re shu re me e se rabl e th ings ; j ust l ike
L eetle wi de r ye poo r
f e e sch hook s a tha i n d
”
b ea s t i e an d Dou g al s voi c e was fu l l of com
p a ss ion as h e p ried th e mou th of the to rtu red
c rea tu re
“
A re you s u re i t w as N ay a s po rcup i ne
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1 16
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTRY
a s k e d Wi l l i am e x t r a c ting a wi c k e d ly b a r b ed
qu il l so deep ly im b edded i n the dog s tongu e
th at only a s mal l po rtion h ad been vis i b le
“
Y e s P acks w as a t h a hoo s e w h en i t h ap
pene d H ann a h c ame a t h a co rral fo r me an
sh e s ai d he cam e i nto th a k i tchen a c ry i n an
a paw i n h i s no s e an no ti ci n th a b ri s tle s sh e
ran i nto N a y a s room an th a u ncanny bea s tie
s ti ll h ad h is w a r bonnet a sti ck i n oo p s trai gh t
an h is eyes l i k e d ot s 0 fi re I t s fine f re e nds
w i T weed ie an d y o n leetl e doe b u t I ve o f ten
thoch t th is w u d h app en to w an o f th a ithe r
”
dogs
“
I h ave been ap p reh en s ive too an d I tol d
N aya a wee k ago th at h e i s growin g s o fast h e
h as b ecome dange rou s S h e w as so up s et th at
I h aven t h a d the hea rt to ta k e a defin i te Step
bu t I m u s t p rotect th e d ogs an d w h at i s mo re
even th o u gh i t s eem s a b sol utely h a rm le ss w ith
h e r s ome day i t m ay h ave a violen t momen t an d
”
s h oot h e r f u l l o f the s e wretch e d th in gs
When th e l a s t qu ill w as d rawn Wil l i am r o s e
f rom t h e block w h e re h e h a d been s itti n g and
wi th thoughtf u l eye s w at c he d the dog a s h e
g rou n d h is s ma rti ng mu z z le i n t h e s an d befor e
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1 17
N A YA
th e Shop doo r He twi rled the p inche rs u nce r
ta i nl y an d finally said
I think I will go f o r a l ittle h u nt b e f o re din
ner The f resh meat is almos t gone an d one o f
the b oy s s aw deer tracks a mile we s t I wish
wh ile I am gone you woul d take you r rifle and
pu t an end to th at l i ttle monste r N aya h as
gone u p to see M rs C a rve r and this is a good
ch ance
H e b egan a rranging th e tools ove r
the ca rpenter s desk as i f he h a d asked some
thing ami a b le and of eve ry day occu rrence
Dougal s kin d eyes emitted Sp a rks o f i ndigna
tion and h e all b u t sai d Do i t y i r
bu t
l ike the loyal devoted henchm an h e was he me re
”
l y mu tte red
Very weel si r and gloomily
m ade h is way towa rd the house wh ile Wi ll i am
f ull o f remo rse an d discom f o rt f o r h avi ng i n
fli cte d the tende r hearted S cotchm an wi th such
a distaste f ul task fled o n R aj ah th rough the
b rok en count ry to th e west f a r f rom the scene
M eanwh ile the chil d ren we re on thei r way
to the lone cabin i n the gulch two mile s away
A rthu r hol ding a great s ack o f p rovisions on
the f ront o f his s addle watched N aya as she
b al anced he rsel f on one f oot l aughi ng an d sway
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1 18
.
NAYA
“
J im iny ! I t must h ave been j u s t l ike a Scene
i n th e theate r O nce I went to a m atinee in L an
c aste r an d when the vi ll ain came on the stage
h e w as ki nd o f a p i rate wi th a peaked cap an d
—
b rass ri ngs i n h is ea rs w h y the re w as the aw f ul
est Sto rm The fi ddl e s sh ivered l ike anyth ing
an d when th e thunde r b anged I went u p straigh t
i n th e a i r an d came down wi th a ca chug I
”
though t he h ad me su re
N aya h ad never b een to the theater b ut he r
quick imagi n ation s aw th e d ramatic possi b il i
ties o f her adventu re
“
“
F or C h ris tm as ! she e x cl aim ed
S u rely
wh at f u n to h ave a l i ttle theater show Y ou shal l
be R ed Dee r to peek i n the wi ndow wh ile I read
an d I will Show you to look sca red a s he di d
when f athe r di d open wi de the doo r F a ther
sh all pl ay h imsel f f o r h e w as most gran d
j ust l ike the king i n th e ragged fai ry b ook e x
cep t f o r th e so tigh t red s toc k i ngs and the red
velvet coat th ing
”
“
The p l an o f a C h ristm as Show w as a joy
ful p rospe c t to A rth u r but he shook h is head
du b iously
“
I know yo u aren t s ca red a b o u t the I ndi an s
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120
A STO R Y O F THE B IGHORN C O U NT RY
”
s teal ing yo u Y ou a re s u c h a funny gi rl an d
h e looked at h e r i n perp lexity
B u t U ncl e
Wil li am i s neve r easy a moment I n the even
i ng when he S i ts reading h e sta rt s an d l istens
at eve ry sou nd an d often h e goes o u t an d b eat s
a rou nd i n the b rush fo r an h ou r I hel ped h i m
”
l ast n i gh t
”
“
Yo u di d ? sh e asked wi th s ta rtled eyes
“
Ye s I d i d an d h e h a s taken L en o ff the l i ne
ri ding c rew an d fo r th e p as t week h e h as don e
noth ing bu t s cou r the cou n t ry fo r I n d i an s i gn s
S he wa s s ilent a momen t
“
I was mos t to dying wi th f ri gh t w h en I s aw
the face at the wi ndow ; my he a rt tu rned d ea d
an d h eavy a s a s tone bu t a fte r f athe r knew i t
was al l ri gh t S omeway I am only s c a red w h en
th ings h ap pen I t is mo s t f oolish I th in k to
b e eve r anxious a n d af raid th at someth ing d read
f ul m ay h app en I grow to l ike Len mo re to
mo re H e h as such q u ic k f u nny l ittle though ts
an d h is hea rt flows wit h kin d ne ss Do yo u k now
w h y h e an d M r H a rtwel l a re f rien d s not longe r
an d w h y h e c ome s h e re to l i ve ?
Len s reticen t admi ss ion s h a d given A rthu r
an i dea b u t h e evaded the question b y s ayi ng
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N AYA
“
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The re is h is l aund ry h angi ng o n M rs C a rver s
b u s hes I should say h e is kind an d he h as
such a way o f m aking people f eel com f o rta b le
H e knows M rs C a rver is aw f ul poor an d aw f ul
p rou d too so he j ust rode u p to he r doo r o ne
d ay and rap ped wi th h i s qu i rt end When h e
f ou nd she was the re he got down and took o ff h i s
h at as i f she was a gran d l ady and told her i t
would b e a great f avo r i f she would do h is l au n
d ry S h e is a mighty n ice woman and w as so
th ank f ul I was along He p ays he r twice as
much as S ee Y up ch a rges Y ou b et h e is b ully
A tu rn i n the wood roa d wh ich wande red u p
th e gulch had b rought them in s ight o f a lonely
log ca b in I t h ad a cu rious sh ri nking exp res
s ion and clung to th e h illsi de as i f l i f e h ad b een
too much f o r i t and i t b esough t all to p ass b y
an d l eave i t i n peace The h and f ul o f aged
s tunted p ines wh ich b ent a b out i t seemed to
real ize th e f arce o f thei r custody an d defeat
and hopelessness em an ated f rom eve ry gnarled
and dying b ranch I t w as H ann ah s ol d home
A f ew yea rs b e f o re wh en the setti ng sun f o re
sh adowed not only darkness b u t danger and
twil igh t f ound the cab ins o f the scattered pi o
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122
N A YA
”
“
Why M i ss N aya she s ai d wi th del igh t,
“
an d i f th ere ai n t M r A rth u r too C ome righ t
i n and set down b y the fi re I do b el ieve i t i s
goin to snow i t s th at gray an d dark
H er l ittle b rood c rowded a round i n shy e x
ci te m e nt
B ess ie an d J ohn the l atter a su b
sta nti al b oy of twelve and the f am ily stand b y
now th at J im h a d gone to S und ance to wor k i n
the mi nes l i nge red i n the b ackground wh ile
the tw o younger tots clung tigh t to thei r moth er s
ski rt s A vivi d eyed l i ttle gi rl o f s even edge d
up to N aya an d f el t o f her coat
“
I s i t plush ? sh e questioned
“
N o j us t p lain cloth bu t i nsi de i t i s mo s t s oft
with fu r o f th e squ i rrel F athe r di d pl ay a j oke
to me
I t w as m ade to C hicago and when it di d
come th ree d ay s ago he di d tu rn th e f u r s i de
ou t an d fix i t l ike an anim al i n my room I was
”
most astonished wh en I di d see i t
S h e s l ip ped i t o ff an d sank i nto the ol d f a s h
i one d wood rocke r b y th e fi repl ace now b l az
i ng wi th the s age b rush J ohn h ad b een l avishly
h eap ing The b u rn ing b rush filled th e room
wi th a strange a romatic odo r as repugnant to
s ome a s i t is del icious to othe rs an d N aya sni ff ed
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1 24
A STO RY O F THE B IGHO R N C O U NTRY
r ap t u rou s ly w h i le th e E ng l i s h A rt h u r still an
al ien i n s ome th i ng s won dered h ow long h e
woul d have to en du re i t I t w as th e fi rs t time
h e h ad been i n th e cab i n fo r owi ng to th e f eu d
exi s ting between J im an d himsel f h i s vi s i ts h ad
been confined to b rie f calls at th e doo r Wh ile
the l i ttl e ch i l d ren res c ued from thei r d umb
shynes s by N ay a s ch a rm p atted an d kis s e d an d
cooed ove r the squ i rrel l i ni ng h e gl an c e d abou t
the room
The re wa s a p a rti tion at o ne en d wi th a d oo r
wh ich evi dently led into a sleep i ng room an d
the rough boa rds we re th ickly s p attere d wi th
colo red new s p ape r p rints an d the geograp h i c al
p ictu re ca rds wh ic h at th at time fo rmed the
p rinci p al in du cemen t o f a popul a r an d chea p
b ran d o f co ff ee T hey rep resented all th e s tate s
an d te rri to ries i n th e U nion an d f rom where h e
sa t A rthu r coul d p l ai nly disce rn fe rocious bu f
f alo an d I n di ans dash i ng m adly a roun d th e m ap
o f N e b raska
T h e re were im po s s i b ly sl im l a d ies
i n costumes o f dove gray b ro ad c loth an d eme r
“
”
al d velvet w h ich fi tt l i k e a g love an d s ta rt
l in g s ugg e s tions for m a s q u e rade c o s t u me s
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125
N A YA
“
”
”
“
N igh t and M o rni ng b eing th e favo ri te
th emes
A rthu r o f cou rse di d not know i t b ut every
whe re there we re tokens o f th at qu ain t ol d time
count ry l i f e i n the E ast O n the floor were a
f ew b i ts o f wo rn rag c arpet and a homem ade
b ed in one corner w as covered with a s p rea d
woven i n sh ades o f rich b lue and wh ite the b o r
der o f which repeated ove r an d over l ike the
song o f an old b ell L i b e rty L i b e r ty L ib
The b ack o f the wooden ch ai r i n which
e rty
N aya f rolicked wi th the b a b ies was painted with
b righ t p i nk roses and on the Shel f a b ove the
fi re w as a s tu ff ed red b i rd who dwelt b ol dly i n
the ou ter ai r as i f rej oicing th at a lunge o f the
o l d schoone r i nto a Wyoming cattle trail h ad
b rough t h is gl ass domed ed ifice c ra s h ing o n h is
head thus setting h im f ree f o reve r H e looked
fea r f ully out o f pl ace no t that th ey ever look i n
p l ace museums not excepted b ut j ust here h is
gau dy assu rance w as dou b ly i nsolent f o r de
sp i te th e b rave f aced wom an and th e extreme
cleanli ness the undercu rren t o f s o rrow an d pov
was
pain
f
ully
evi
dent
e rt
y
A rthu r suddenly b ec ame conscious that
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1 26
,
NAYA
s tick candy and ch alky white hea rts with thei r
c al fi sh insc ri ption s ever the deligh t o f chil dhood
“
O l d Tom goes to find wood to morrow and
h e wil l leave potatoes an d flou r The l ast rug
”
p ays fo r all and th is b es ides and She de f tly
changed the su b j ect as sh e Sl ip p ed an envelope
i nto M rs C a rve r s hand
“
I thi nk I die i f the C h ri s tmas hu r ry not
You a re al l to come to the rive r house f o r S anta
C l aus is i n a so terri b l e hu rry an d i t s ave s the
”
time I t i s a so b ig country
The fou r yea r ol d b a b y much besmeared with
peppe rmi nt candy cl im b ed h astily to he r knee
i n p ie eyed exci tement f o r h e too h ad heard o f
S anta C l aus N aya rocked and hugged h im i n
ecstacy sticki ness an d all wh ile A rthu r an d
J oh n discussed the merits o f th e di ff erent kinds
o f C h ristm as tree s
”
“
The si lver fi r s ai d N aya s i tting u p i t is
as i f th e G reat S p i ri t di pped i t i n th e moon
—
b eams an d i t goes s traigh t u p u p an d she
gave a look an d a gestu re th at eloquently de
scri b e d the asp i ring ch a racter o f the mo s t b eau
ti f ul tree th at ado rn s the mountain s
“
—
The re are to b e b ananas tw o whole
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1 28
A STOR Y O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
”
b unches ; father di d s en d fo r th em Sh e con
“
—
an d ap p le s real red
t i nu e d i n anoth e r voice
ap ples an d o ranges an d candles eve rywhe re o n
”
the tree o f si lve r
T h en sh e an d th e baby
rocked an d hugged s ome mo re
Wh at s n anas asked th e l atte r s u dd enly
“
They a re lon g an d yellow l ike th e cotton
woo d i n th e f all ing lea f time an d whe re they
grow a thousan d s leep s f rom here th e re a re
”
b righ t green b i rd s b ig l ike th at O peni ng wi de
“
h er a rms and th ey m a k e s peech a s do peop le
an d the re a re mi l lion s o f trees cove red wi th
flowe rs an d mon k eys with f u nny fa c e s r u nn in g
”
th rough them on thei r tai l s
”
“
M y doo d ne ss s ai d the b aby h i s eye s bi g
“
ge r th an eve r doe s th e n an a s ru n on thei r tai l s
”
too ?
The re was s uc h a s h ri e k o f l a ug h te r th at b ab y
S ammy sl i p p ed f rom he r l ap an d ran to th e
win dow to h i de h is emb a rra s sm en t fo r h e h a d
evi dently m ade a d read ful m i s ta k e but at the
s igh t of t h e tran sf o rme d ou t o f d oo r s h e s pee d
ily fo rgot about i t
“
I dess D od s wi fe i s m a k i n bw e ad to da y
”
an d p i lle d he r flou r he annou n c ed re fle cti v e l y
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I 29
N AYA
and at the sigh t o f the snow N aya Sp rang
u p an d sli pped i nto he r th i ngs
H ave a l i ttle b ite wi th u s my dea r u rged
ki nd M rs C a rver b ut N aya th ought o f Pigeon
u nshelte red i n th e sto rm and of he r f athe r s
anxiety i f th ey d id not retu rn
I n two minutes a f te r mounting thei r ho rses
th e cabin and f ringe o f pi ne s b ecame i nvisi b le
I t w as S trangely d a rk an d s ometimes they almost
lo s t thei r b reath f o r th e atmosphere h a d become
heavy wi th snow as fine as powder
Th i s b eat s me sai d A rthu r pee ri ng fo r the
trai l
G ive A l de r th e rei n H e and Pigeon find
th e way alone
They rode on silently th rough the i nc reas ing
col d trusting to the i nsti nct o f the ho rses fo r
the p ath an d the di ff erent l andm arks were fast
disap pea ring
”
“
Th is is the longest two mi les I ever ro d e
muttered A rth u r fin ally
”
G et down and feel for the trail sai d N aya
i n a pu zzled voice fo r s he too h ad b egu n to f eel
b ewil dered
A rth u r knel t i n f ront of A lder w h o pulled
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1 30
N AY A
i nvi ted h i m to abandon f o r on c e S ee Y up s e x
ce l l e nt though monotonous fa re b ut h e di d not
read H e was th i nking o f th at long ri de he h a d
m ade a month ago f ollowing the tra il th at led
s traight ove r the B igho rns
H e w as seei ng
agai n a great lu s trous sta r h angin g j ust above
the summi t I t seemed to b eckon to the home
less wande re r and his hea rt h ad grown reverent
with the t h ough t o f a s omething j u s t beyon d
tho s e s ta r c rowned mountai ns a something
vaguely di ff e rent and h igh an d b eauti f ul F o r
yea rs h e h ad roamed f rom th e C olum b i a to the
M issi s s ip pi on the deserts o f N evada an d the
rich p rai ries o f th e D akotas an d th rough all
the d angers land t emp tations o f frontier l i f e
th is longing h ad groped steadily i n the dark
nes s
Will i am r eal i z ed someth ing o f this an d mo re
an d h a d tol d L en o f the danger th at th reatened
N aya knowi ng th at h is i ntell igence an d loyal ty
woul d be an added s trength i n the d efense th at
gu a r d ed h e r
Len s at s o abso rbed i n h i s tho ugh t s th at h e
d i d not o b serve t h e gl ance th at p a ss ed b etween
th e o the r tw o men
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1 32
A STO RY O F THE B IGHO R N C O U NT RY
S oo n N aya c ame r u s h in g d own th e s tep s th at
l ed to he r room
”
“
“
Len sh e que s tioned anxiou s ly h ave yo u
”
s een m y l ittl e p o rc up i ne ?
“
N o t s in c e ye s te r d ay
he repl ied
”
“
D ougal h ave y o u seen h im ?
T h e b i g S cotchm an s ru d dy fa c e h a d t u rne d
a trifle p ale bu t he d e c i d ed th at i n th is c ase
f ran kn ess w as th e bette r p a rt of valo r
“
B ai rni e dea r i f ye c oul d h ae seen P a c k s w i
h is poo r mou th an no s e fool o qu ills ye w u d
f o rgie m e I j u s t h ad to d o i t to p rotect th a
”
an im al s
S he became p e rfe c tly w h i te
“
Y ou di d k il l h im Dougal my d ea r l i ttle
”
po rcu p ine ?
”
“
Y e s l ass ie I h a d to
S he tu rned away wi th a d a z e d e x p re ss ion a s
i f sh e coul d not real i ze w h at h e s a id Then
sh e wheele d swep t by a su d den s to rm o f an g e r
He r d a r k eyes tu rned a p u rpl i s h bl ac k an d
floods o f colo r came an d went S h e lea pe d a t
Dougal l i k e a l i ttle p ant h e r an d s ei z i ng h is
new s p a p e r s nat c h e d i t i nto a hu n d r e d b i ts
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1 33
N AY A
“
Yo u a re ho rrible
Y ou a re f ull o f h ate I
hope th e G reat S pi ri t sends a cu rse I
N aya s ai d he r f a the r ste rnly come and
taking he r b y the a rm he led he r to the doo r o f
he r room
When you a re ready to apologize
to Dougal you may come out b ut u ntil then
I mu s t a s k you to stay i n you r room I t w as I
w h o h ad the l ittle monster kil led so you h ave
noth ing to b l ame Dougal f or
“ —
I I hope th e G reat S p i ri t cu r s es you too
”
then Sh e ga s ped as he shu t the doo r
There wa s a sudden wild b u rs t of weeping
then a b solute quiet
L en f o rgot H annah s hosp i tali ty an d dashed
th rough th e snow towa rd the sta b les The rest
ate th ei r meal in agitated Silence E ven Will
i am neve r wi tnessed such an ou tb u rst o f he r
tempe r bu t desp ite h is displeasu re and ste m
resolutions h is hea rt ached f o r her He knew
th at she ado red all her pets an d th at only so r
row coul d have d riven he r to such an extrem ity
S o by h i s des i re H ann ah weep ing f u rtively
a r r an g ed a l i ttle tray an d softly opening her
doo r s l i p ped i t i n without s peaki ng
The S torm continued unceas i ngly
A rthu r
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1 34
N AYA
and wi thout noticing h im f u rth er s h e b ro k e
into a fiercely gay s ong
”
N o t m uch s ign o f
re p entan c e h ere
Will i am though t grimly as he shut the doo r
H e walked about a b sently then su ddenly th row
i ng h im s el f i nto a ch ai r he p ut h is head down
“
on t h e ta b le an d so b bed l ike a ch ild
L i ttle
wi f e l i ttle wi f e why didn t you s tay to hel p
m e wi th her wh at sh all I do wh at s h all I do ?
The oute r doo r w as su ddenly th rown open
”
“
Th ree men h ave come i n almost f roze
“
s ai d Len
I thi nk they ough t to b e b rough t
i n he re fo r it s neare r th an the bunk h o u s e
”
an d we l l h ave to b ou t ca rry em
”
“
To b e s u re Wh ere a re they ? an d Will i am
h asti ly caugh t u p h is h at while L en took qu ick
note o f h i s distre s sed f ace an d th e still closed
doo r
“
R igh t here Dougal an d A rth u r a r e try i n
”
to hel p em along
The poo r f ellow s h ad become so dazed and
exh austed th at they c oul d hel p them s elve s bu t
l i ttle They were carrie d to the house an d
l ai d on th e S itting room floo r where H annah
a rran g e d q u ilt s an d bl an k ets an d th en a l l wen t
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1 36
A STORY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTRY
wor k wi th s now an d h ot wh i s ky W h en th e
numbne ss began to yiel d th ey gro aned an d
s c reame d wi th p ain I t w as f rightful fo r the
res cue r s were powerles s to hel p them T h ey
c oul d only awai t t h e effe c t of th ei r s impl e
t r eatm ent
“
N ow mo re tod dy an d bl an k ets an d by an d
”
b y th ey wi l l get to Sleep s ai d Wi ll i am b an d
ag in g a m aimed h an d
”
“
H e re s ai d N aya r unn i n g down the s te p s
“
an d d rag g i ng he r s nowy bed di ng a f te r h e r an d
”
H ann a h I k now to fi x th e toddy an d s he s pe d
towa r d the k itchen h e r doe s k in ro b e d rop p i n g
to th e floo r a s she ran S h e s oon retu rned h e r
e y e s f u l l o f tea rs an d h eavenly s ym p athy
When th e l a s t d raugh t o f wh is k y h a d been
a d min i s tere d an d the p atien ts h a d be c ome q u iet
i n thei r s oot h ing ban d age s an d wa rm bl an k et s
s h e c ame s h yly to h e r fath e r
“
”
Plea s e y ou an d Dou g al i n m y room
T h ey followed h er i n s il en c e an d w h en t h ey
en tered s he c lo s e d t h e d oo r an d b r ave l y fa c e d
t h e tw o g rave men
“
I c annot s pea k my h ea rt I t i s full I wa s
s o te rrib l e be c au s e o f th e d eat h o f a l ittle an im al
to
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I 37
I t wa s d ea r b u t t h ey a re
noth ing to suc h s u ff ering I s peak not w h at I
mean bu t my hea rt i s f u ll
an d I
”
an d to be forgiven
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N AY A
po rch to see the ra re and lovely s pectacle
wh ich was al ready b eing b rushed away by the
o rder o f H is R oyal M aj esty the Winter S u n
I t now struck the wo rl d a b l a z e with C h ri s tm a s
joy The icebound rive r swep t b a re of s now
twisted l ike a stri p o f p ale blue ga uz e between
gigantic f ores ts o f whi te b ranch coral stu dded
wi th a mi ll ion j ewels
The l i ttle eve rgreen s
b ecame monstrous clus ters o f snow b al ls rolled
i n di amon d dust an d l akes o f p alp itating
l ight danced o n the su r f ace o f the snowy plain
F a r down the river a h ay wagon slowly ci rcle d
i n a he rd o f b awli ng cattle an d a man wa s c ut
ting a hole i n the ice th at th ey m ight d rink
”
“
M elly Cl i sm as M issy s ai d S ee Y u p f r om
th e doo r
“
M erry C h ri s tm a s you ba d S ee Y up yo u d i d
”
b eat me I s the tree to the hou s e yet ?
”
“
I n the house co rrected Willi am c atch ing
h e r b y the Sho ul ders an d giving h er a l i ttle
“
sh ake as he f ollowed her i n the doo rway
You r
E ngl ish is going to be the death o f me I neve r
hea rd anyth ing l ike i t I t is neithe r I n di a n
”
E ngl ish no r cow puncher E ngli s h
B ut she ran ahead wi thout an s weri ng
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I 40
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTRY
Dougal an d Len were d ra gg i n g a bea u ti f ul
s ilve r fi r u p th e l i ttle Stai rway th at led to he r
roo m
I t h ad been b rou gh t to N a y a a few
d ays s in c e f rom th e s lope s o f C lou d Pe a k
“
L et me i n be f o re s he s ai d c l imb in g ove r
the tal l lowe r b ran c he s th at wave d i n th e d oo r
.
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,
w ay
,
.
A r thu r wa s al rea d y th e r e , movi n g t h e f u rni
tu re an d N aya sn at c h ing o ff h e r w ra p s fel l to
h el pi ng him
”
“
R igh t b y the p ool s he d i re c te d an d s oon
the noble tree s i lvere d as wi th de l i c ate fro s t
rea re d it s h ea d to th e ri dg e pole of th e s l anti ng
roof
S he d r ew a great box of tri n k ets f rom u n d e r
the b ed S u rely no C h ri s tm a s tree w as eve r so
Strangely arrayed F o r e ach and eve ry one she
h ad m ade a l i ttl e beaded pou c h o r bel t o r
h at ban d an d they hu ng an d trai le d fanta s
tically among the s i lve ry b ranch e s T h ere we re
no Strings o f sh i ni ng b alls an d tinsel bu t th ere
were can dles in abun dance an d H ann ah a d de d
snowy rope s of popco rn an d l i ttle red ap ple s
b ristl in g a gg ress ively wi th fat b rown c love s
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14 1
N AYA
“
”
I s i t no t mo s t wonderful ? breathe d N aya
to L en when the othe r s h ad dep a rte d
”
“
Ye pe e cc he answe red wi th an enthusi asm
as great as he rs an d th rowin g h i s h at h igh i n
th e ai r he j uggled an d dodged until i t f el l
s qu a re o n h is h ead again
”
“
L et me try i t s ai d A r th u r ret u r ning with
a n a rm f ul of green s
“
”
an d Do u gal l et fal l by
A n I ll b eat ye all
th e fi repl ace h i s weigh t of log s long eno u gh
”
“
to men d a m ill a s S cotch B o bb y s ay s
I t woul d never do to b e le f t ou t o f the game
an d t h ey
so N aya s wep t a h at from i ts p eg
j ostled an d s hoved an d giggled l ike a lot o f
school b oy s
Willi am retu rn ing from h is
r oom wi th a mountai nous b u rden o f p ackages
p romp tly d ashed i nto th e fun an d L en s j oyou s
“
voice b reaki ng i nto th e cl ass i c 0 C a rol ine
”
C a rol ine can y ou d ance th e pea vine ? the re s t
joi ned i n with enthu s i asm
“
M elly C l is
b egan S ee Y u p w h o though t
th at s alutation p roper f o r ea c h recu rring e h
counter bu t wh en h e s aw them h i s ch ron i c
grin f roze to h i s fa c e an d h is almon d eye s
s tarte d from th ei r sockets
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I 42
N AYA
h e is cl imbi ng C lou d Pea k b y th i s time H e
”
saw you all and thought you we re c ra z y
L en w as disp atched to head h im o ff
”
I ll ri de F i refly He s the b e s t runner he
called ove r h is shoulde r and to re for the b u nk
house
S ee Y up w as locked i n h i s room
”
“
S ay o l d f ellow sai d L en kno c k ing on th e
“
doo r we re al l righ t honest We ai n t luny
I t s j ust cause i t s C h ri s tm a s an d we were fooli n
”
C ome on ou t
P a rtly rea s su red th e C hin am an opened th e
doo r a f ew i nches reveal i ng the butcher kn i fe
tightly c lutche d in h i s h an d H e h ad wre s ted
i t f rom the wall a b ove the s ink i n h i s f ranti c
fl i gh t th rough th e kitchen
“
Honest it ai n t nothin
C ome on b ack to
”
th e house continued L en
S uddenly Y up s b l anched f ace rel a x ed i n i ts
c ustoma ry gri n
“
M e ti nk e e you gone cl az e e
O nly pl ay
”
Y ou M e l i cans so d am e e fu ne e an d they re
tu rned to the river ho u s e an d thei r C h ri s tm a s
p rep aration s
Wi th a co rdi al i ty th at w as tr u ly democ rati c
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I 44
A S T ORY O F THE B IGHORN C O U NTRY
Will i am h a d in v i te d th e bu n k h ou s e i nm ate s to
di ne the re to d ay an d the di n ing room wa s
s tri pe d f rom en d to en d wi th a long wh i te table
N aya w as b u sy t ryi ng to cons tru c t a f ru i t c astle
fo r a cente rp iece I ts l ines we re to f ollow th e
m a rv elo u s a r c h i tectu re Of a p i c t u re d Won de r
“
Le s
sh e h ad fou n d i n o ne o f her fat h er s boo k s
”
Ch ateau x d e F rance
To he r great di s gu s t
ea c h red an d yellow tu rret w as no s oone r rea re d
to a re s pectable h eigh t th an i t fell wi th a s e rie s
o f bump s an d he r bu i ld ing m ateri als wen t roll
i ng o ff to the fou r co rners o f the room
“
”
C rys an th e mum c ry s an the mum
she
c rooned softly as sh e gathe red u p the r u n away
app le s p rep a rato ry to anothe r attem p t
“
”
Wh at di d you say honey ? as k e d H ann a h ,
com ing i n wi th th e refille d s uga r bow l s
“
I m a k e p ractice S o long wo r d i s c ry s an
”
t h e mum and N aya k neeli ng on a ch ai r bent
“
to h e r re c ap tu re d p ile
I di d say to fa th er h ow
s o r ry I am th at the M oon o f S nows left no
flowe rs fo r th e table H ann a h d i d you eve r see
—
a
n
a c ry s
the mum ? T he shops to i n the b i g
b ig Lon d on a re ful l o f t h em an d l il ie s o f th e
val ley an d A meri c an b eauty roses F athe r d i d
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1 45
NAYA
i t The l il ie s o f th e valley are mo s t l i k e th e
S olomon s seal o f the cati o ns an d the Ame rican
b eau ty rose s h ave colo r like th e wil d ro s e s here
—th e da rk p ink ones only m any m any petals
B u t I woul d love to se e th e c rys an th e
”
mum c rys an the mum and she began to Sing
So f tly wh ile th e b right ca s tle wall s agai n too k
u p thei r u ns teady existence
“
”
I used to se e them i n L ouisvi lle s ai d H an
“
n ah counting ou t th e pl aces the f ather o f one
o f my l ittle pup i ls h ad a flowe r S h O p and ea c h
week when I went to give her h er mu s i c les s on
sh e gave me a lovely flowe r sometime s a ro s e
sometimes a cry santh e m u m They l ived i n s ome
”
l ittle room s beh i nd the s to re
“
I S i t nice to pl ay the so quee r th ing wi th th e
great wh ite teeth ? N aya w as So anxiou s abou t
h er top pl ing wo rkmanship th at She di d not no
tice th e s adne s s th at s h adowed H ann ah s face
”
Y es honey b ut I gave th at u p long ago
Notwi th standing the m any renunci ation s an d
th e terri b le tragedy w h ich te rm in ated h e r m a r
ri ag e she h ad never regretted s ac rificing f o r th e
ventu resome b ut lova b le Tom Wa rren her qu iet
l i fe i n Louisville wi th its l ittl e m u s ic le ss on s an d
say
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I 46
bowe r o f f r a g r ant e v e r g r een an d s h e too k long
deep b reath s as sh e ran to he r room
“
My h ow I do love n ice smell s and I S O a d ore
”
the C h ristm as She sa i d to h e r s el f as sh e re
b rai d ed he r long h ai r
Tu rni ng to l i f t her d re ss f rom i t s d rawe r
sh e c augh t s igh t o f h e r mothe r s face an d walked
slowly towa rd i t h e r b eauti ful eye s glowing
with an inne r l igh t S h e though t of not h ing
s ai d nothi ng b u t wi th a hea rt full o f unuttera b le
love k nelt on the bed an d put her cheek to the
s o f tly outlined one i n the pictu r e
Will i am c ame in and found them th u s
“
We alway s think o f her We alway s wi s h
”
don t w e l ittle on e ? h e w h i s
sh e we re here
p e red cl asping he r tight
”
“
B ut s he i s here sai d N aya loo k in g at h im
wh il e an i nvis i b le au reole seemed to She d i t s
“
my s ti c l i ght o n he r face I n the nigh t Sh e come s
wi th her a rms f ull o f s il k gra ss an d golden ro d
”
an d we do p lay an d talk togeth e r
Wi ll i am tu rned away H e too h a d d ream s
but the re w as alway s the lonely awakening
A fter th e new frock wa s buttoned an d ad
m i red sh e b oun d he r b row with a n arrow s tri p
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I 4S
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHO R N CO U NTRY
e rm i ne an d fa s tene d to i t th e one p e rm i tte d
p lume
“
Doe s E ngl ish grandmothe r h ave o ften th e
”
hy s te rics ? sh e que s tione d
H e w as watch i ng he r i ntently
S h e h ad
—
grown so tal l so d i ff erent an d h e r beau ty
s ta rtle d h im
”
“
Why ? h e l a u g h e d b u t h e di d not h ea r he r
an s we r
T h e r e wa s a fa i nt ti n k l e o f bell s growing
mo re an d mo re di s tin c t and as Sh e s po k e she
rushed down th e s tep s an d to th e doo r j u s t a s
a bob s le d d rawn b y tw o great bays c ame
s winging u p to t h e h ou s e T h e l i ttle C a rve rs
s p i lled o u t l i k e pebble s f rom a gou r d an d N aya
h ugge d each grote s q u e bun dle i n tu rn
”
“
Like a m a s qu erade sh e th ou gh t won d e ri n g
“
w h i c h was wh ich
S anta C l au s won t let u s
se e the tree u ntil a fte r t h e d inne r s o we wi ll pl ay
”
h ere u n til th e h ou r i s gone Sh e s ai d hel p i ng
t h e h a p py M rs C a rve r strip th em o f th ei r d i s
gu i s es
Len an d Wiggy (al as fo r M r H a rtwel l th e
f ri en d s h a d been u n ite d ) h a d i n s i s ted o n hel p
“
”
i n g S ee Y u p s h oot t h e b isc u i t s s o H ann a h
of
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1 49
N A YA
“
”
was to pl ay l a d y as Sh e s ai d an d she c ertainly
looked one as Sh e c ame i n di rectly i n he r ol d
b l ack Si lk d ress h er a b undant h ai r now h eavily
s treaked with gray c rown ing th e s tron g r efine d
f ace
Th at hou r wa s the longe s t the c hil d ren h ad
eve r expe rien c ed and they took tu rn s hol din g
Dougal s watch
F inally Len s plen d i d i n
slicked h ai r an d new red necke r c hief su m
mo u ed them to the di n ing room an d a sudden
clang of the b ell followed b y a f aint whoop
tol d them th at th e b u n k ho u s e fa c tion w as on
i ts way
M in df u l o f N ay a s l amentation s regar d i ng
th e flowers m ade seve r al days b e f o re H ann ah
and Will i a m h ad planned a l i ttle s u rp ri s e fo r
he r an d when th e chil d saw th e m i ni atu re
C h ristma s tree i n th e c ente r o f th e table sh e
gave a c ry o f del i gh t an d astonishment S u r el y
noth ing eve r f ash ioned b y n atu re wa s so e x
e
l
a
symmetrical
that
little
tree
F
rom
u
i
i
s
t
s
q
y
i t s feathe ry c rest i t sloped and wi dened until th e
l ower b ranche s b len ded thei r s ilve r green wi th
the w h i te ta b leclo th an d th e d anci ng glowing
l igh ts gave i t s uc h a fai ryl ike ap pearan c e t h at
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1 50
N A YA
we re sc rubbed unti l th ey re s emble d poli s hed
mahogany Desp ite the va riety of n ationali ty
and type thei r fa c e s mos tl y yo u ng bo re a
s trange s im il a ri ty o f exp re ss ion an d l ine t h at
Spoke o f l ike occu p ation and mutual d angers
dangers eve r con f ronted with c ou rage an d
ch a racteri s tic l ack o f c ompl aint B ut th e cli
ma x of elegance w as viewed when Wi ggy ru s he d
i n from th e k i tchen a rrayed i n am azing Sto re
c lothes the su perfluou s i nches o f both trouser
an d s leeve being vis ibly tucked an d tu rned
u nde r wh ile i n s ta rtli ng contra s t to h i s mop of
u n ruly red h ai r was a ready m ade necktie o f
b righ t b lue s atin A fter a gay flou ri s h o f h i s
n apkin h e tu rned to steady a candle flickering
i n the h emlock b oughs o n the wall an d all the
wo rl d w as f ree to read th e following pl aca rd
wh ich s ome misch ievo u s fellow c ow p unc h e r
h ad p inned to th e new coat
“
I ve j ined the b i le d s h i rt a r i s to c racy , by
”
gosh
There w as a roa r o f l augh te r from th e cow
punche rs w h o in s tantly recollecting the terri
”
“
yi ng p resen c e of women folk sank agai n
T
i nto glum and p a raly z e d s ilen c e B u t i t di d not
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1 52
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHO R N CO U NTR Y
l as t T h ei r ton g ue s loo s ene d when al l h ad fou nd
s eat s an d S ee Y u p with h i s two helpe r s b rough t
i n th e g reat ro aste d tu rkey s an d gee s e The
Ch i nam an s d ecorative tu rn o f m i nd h ad de
vised ru ffl l e s o f green an d red p aper fo r the i r
f at b rown leg s giving them th e com ical ap pea r
an c e o f portly fem ale s i n ol d fa s h ioned panta
l et s w h o we r e abou t to ri s e an d b a l an c e to
c o r ne rs
“
”
S ee t h e t u r k ey S ammy s a i d M rs C a rve r
w h o h el d th e b aby i n h e r l a p
”
“
I sh it R ag gy M o s e s M r C ame ra ? he a s ke d
of Do u gal w h o w as c a rvi ng a t N aya s en d o f
th e table
”
“
S h u re
s ai d the bi g S cot c h m an wi th a
“
twi n k le i n h i s eye an i f ye fin d h im gu d e we ll
”
b rin g i n a s et 0 h a r ne ss ne x t
N aya s hoo k h e r hea d r ea ss u r in g ly an d p atte d
t h e c hubby h an d on t h e table c loth S he s at a t
o ne en d of th e l on g tab l e
b an k e d on e ithe r
s i de with row s o f hu ngry bu t pol i te l i ttle C a rv
e r s an d a s lon g a s Sh e l ived s h e neve r fo rgot
h ow they ate
C onve r s ation h a d no fu rth e r
i nte re s t fo r th em an d t h ey reti r ed to ram an d
c ram t h ei r l i tt l e p o u c h e s u nti l th o s e r e c e p ta c le s
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I S3
h avi ng often faced and fel t s ta rvation must
h ave though t an avalanche h ad struck them
“
S ay Wiggy sai d the new ranch w i t f rom
Poison S p ide r C reek a s h aving pe r f o rmed h i s
task the ela b orately gotten u p waiter sank into
“
h is p lace I was ove r on you r range not long
ago and say do yo u remem b e r th at queer look
”
i n b utte a l ittle to th e west 0 C a c tu s D raw ?
W i ggy s blue eye s an d b lue neckti e were all
attention
“
”
“
O h su re h e s ai d eagerly i t s got a funny
”
k ind o f a rim 0 wh ite cl ay stu ff a roun d th e top
“
I t s kin d 0 peaked l ike
N o no t th at one
and the re s c racks i n i t deep enough to sw al l e r
”
a man ho rse an d all
T h e newcome r evi dently h ad an e x ci ting inci
dent to relate an d th e roas t goose an d the new
apple s auce were a b andoned by all withi n
h earing
”
“
N ow I k now s ai d the un s u s pe c tin g Wig gy,
“
big bl ac k c rack s L oo k like an ea rth quake
done i t Y ou don t mean to say th at s ome one
”
fell into one ?
”
“
We l l S i r s ai d t h e s m ar ty, g r owing d ra
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1 54
’
NAYA
wi f e loved h im mo re th an eve r R ummy ol d
ch ap all right S pe ak i n o f Wa s hakie h as any of
you f ellows eve r b een ove r i n the Needles ?
None b u t Wiggy h ad ever penetrated th e
mys te rious mountains all u ded to
“
The re s th ings ove r the re a s igh t mo re
wonde r f ul than any I eve r saw Why th e bu b
bl i n p aint pots an d the Sh in in water s o f the
Y ellowstone geyse r s ai n t anyth ing in comp a ri
I t woul d take a greate r wo rd sl inger n me
so n
to p ictu re i t B ut p ro b a b ly you ve hea rd a b out i t
be f o re an d h e hel ped h imsel f to wi l d plum
j am a s i f h e h a d no d es i re to bore t h em wi th
twice tol d tale s
“
”
I ai n t neve r h e e rd G o ahead s ai d th e
s ma rty o u t o f mi ngled c u riosi ty an d a ss u me d
pol iteness H e was anxious to foun d h i s po pu
l a ri ty o n eve ry rock th at p resente d i ts el f
“
Well s ai d L en add ress ing him s el f thought
“
fully to h is victim i t s certai nly cu riou s wh at
n atu re can do O f cou rse you ve seen petrified
trees they re all over the bl oom i n count ry b ut
what do you th ink of petrifie d rattle s n ake s rat
”
tle s an d all ?
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1 56
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHO R N C O U NT RY
”
“
“
’
Well s ai d th e c redulou s new c ome r t h at s
s u re c u riou s C oul d you coun t th e rattle s ?
”
“
S u re retu rne d L en beginn ing to wa rm to
“
h i s s ubj ect i n ea rne s t I c ounte d one mon s te r
B u t th at ain t all
w i th eighteen rattl e s on i t
—
N o t fa r away I s aw a tam a r a c k tree tall an d
—
b a re y o u know an d on i ts top b ran c h s at a
h awk p lumb petri fied an d rig h t on th e s lope
E vi
o f th e h i l l u n de r i t s too d a b i g bu l l el k
d e ntl y i t wa s a m aki n th a t k in d 0 sa d wh i s tl i n g
no is e w h en th e s tone tu rni n p roce s s struck h im ,
f o r th e s ou n d wa s righ t the re p etrifie d i n the ai r
”
You c oul d h ea r i t pl ai n
E ven Wil l i am j oined i n the r oa r of l a ugh te r
a t th e e x pen s e o f the di scom fi te d w i t an d A r
thu r w h o wa rmly se c on ded Len s ch am pionsh i p
o f the ea s ily im po s ed u pon Wi ggy
s ta rte d i n
h i s f r e s h y o u n g v oi c e th e fam il i a r
Ti s a t nd fo ti foo t
Let s d a ub hi s fa ce w i th soo t
H i m mm l l wa s h hi m c l e a n
H
s ti l l t youn g to w ea n etc
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o
e
’
s
a
a
’
e 5
’
”
oo
,
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th rough some fo rty el even v er s e s mo re o r le ss
The cow pu nche rs all joined i n an d the long
room he avy with the i ncense o f C h ristm as h em
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I S7
.
N AYA
lock and Sp ruce echoed gayly with the rough
h armoniou s musi c A fter th e hu ge pl u m pu d
ding i h it s s wi rl ing bl u e fl ames h ad d i sap
“
e
e
a
r
d
and
th
e
f
ragrant
ban
an
a
s
h
ad
ru
n
on
p
”
thei r tail s i nto the va riou s pocket s b y this time
the only avail a b le recep tacle s th e company re
so rted to N aya s room where A rthu r as Sel f
appointed to rch b ea re r h ad p recede d them
S ilen c e agai n engul fe d the bunk house ele
ment O verawed by th e fanta s ti cally beauti f ul
room , each ti ptoed shyly to h is s eat None be
side s L en h ad ever penetrated th is p a rt o f th e
rive r house an d they f el t the Shadow o f my s te ry
The s to ry o f Dunsmui r s m a rri age h ad been
r u mored i n va rious ways S ome s ai d sh e w as
not an I n di an at all b u t the daugh te r o f a
F rench voyageu r an d th at Sh e h ad been s tolen
an d hel d captive b y the S ioux f rom whom
D unsmui r rescued he r
Thei r h ai rb readth
escapes h ad f u rnished theme s fo r m any an
im aginative ya rn Sp i nne r S h e h ad Sp ent only
and th e few w h o h ad
o ne yea r at th e ranch
s een h e r s ai d th at she certai nly di d not re
s em b l e any squ aws they h ad ever seen S he w as
b rown to b e su re but so w as every one i n Wyo
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1 58
NAYA
seem to h ave any jo b i n p a rtic u l a r e xc e p t to ri de
among th e h i lls o n th e b e s t ho r s es the ranch
a ff o rded They gl anced fu rtively abo u t them
as i n a d ream b u t the lights dan c ing on th e
mu rm u ri ng c ascade and o n the strange p ictu re
—a wom an s face amon g th e p i ne s di d not c l ea r
away the my s te ry
B u t there wa s l ittle time fo r reflection fo r a
j ingle o f b ell s w as h ea rd on th e b ri dge leading
to the tree hou s e and i n anoth er momen t S anta
C l aus h ad th rown open the win dow and tumb
led ove r th e sill followed b y a blast o f col d
n igh t wi nd E ven though i t was b u t h al f p a s t
five the winte r n ight h ad fallen S ammy w h o
h ad wandered towa rd the great glowing tree
a s i f hypnotized gave a sh rie k o f m ingled ter
ro r and del igh t and tu rned to flee to the m atern al
”
“
re f uge b u t bump i ng i nto M r C amera and
a h al f d o z en othe r glee f ul ch il d ren h e saw th at
retreat in th at qu a rte r w as useless an d with a
comical l i ttle p lump to the floo r rolled unde r
the b ed l ike a ru bb er b all
H i s l ittle face
qu iveri ng with exci tement w as s een to pee r
f rom the fol ds o f th e N avajo b l anket th at h a d
tran s forme d the bed into a s ettle
Dougal
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1 60
A STORY O F THE B IGHORN C O U NTRY
c a ug h t him to h i s s h o u l de r an d th e s u p e rio r
h eigh t g ave h im bac k h i s u s u al c ou rage an d
s el f po ss e ss ion N aya wa s a s greatly s u rp rised
a s the othe r s N ot even he r qu i c k pe r c e p tion s
woul d h ave re c ogn i zed Len h a d s he not c a s t
a q u i c k e y e a ro u n d the room fo r th e m i ss in g
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o ne
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H e h a d been trans fo rme d i n to a m a g n ifi c ent
Vi k ing o f o l d h is coat an d ca p o f fu r c ove red
wi th ice an d s now The re s ul t of s i x feet p a d
d e d wi th b u n k h ou s e p i llow s an d elevated o n
h ig h heele d boot s (c a refully c on c eale d wi th fu r
a r c ti cs ) w as truly g i ant li k e an d i m po s i n g an d
an immen s e p ac k o n h i s b a c k fo retol d h is g ene r
o u s i ntention s
N aya ran fo r S ee Y u p
I n a c olo ss al r u mbl ing voi c e th at m ade o ne
th i n k o f i c ebe r gs an d pol a r bea r s h e began c al l
“
”
i ng h i s d ea r Pow d e r R i ve r c h i ld ren by n ame
followed by th e d i s tri b u tion o f p re s en ts
“
”
My want to pool h e e m s w h i sh k as S ammy
anno u n c ed growi n g b rave u n d e r th e s tre ss o f
e xc i temen t
S anta C l a u s w as abou t to top h im wi t h a
s ol d ier s ca p an d d o d ged a s i d e j u s t i n ti me to
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I61
NAYA
s ave h i s rep u tation as well as h i s h oa ry a d o rn
ment
”
“
Li ttle f riend f rom Poi s on S p ide r s ai d h e
tende rly an d the sma r ty newcomer w as pushed
f o rwa rd b y hi s gri nning comp anions
I t w as a newsp ape r p rin t o f an elk w h ich
L en h ad su ddenly though t o f a s he was i n the
act o f a rraying h imself H i s f ai th ful sh adow
Wiggy h ad ru s hed to fin d i t and f ollowi ng
L en s di rection s h ad in sc ribed u nder i t the o ne
“
wo rd L i s ten !
“
”
My want to pool h ee ms w h i shk as wailed
S ammy k icking Dougal s chest lustily an d m a k
ing dangerous snatches a t th e coveted p ri ze
Len w as actu ally weak wi th h eat f or the great
p ine k nots roa red an d c rackled i n the fi rep l ace
H e rap i dly distri b uted th e res t o f h is p ac k of
dolls an d tri nkets an d fl annel s h i r ts and sm ok
ing to b acco and speaking o f the l ittle ch il dren
at F ort R ussell w h o were expecting h im m ade
fo r th e window
“
”
My want to p ool h e ems w h i sh k as sh rieked
S ammy as the desi re of h is h eart dis ap pea red
i n th e snow
”
“
H e r e pull m y h a i r s ai d Wi ggy ami a b ly
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1 62
.
N AY A
ci rclet o f pea rls and Will i am h a d ad d e d a
th rea d l ike neckl a c e o f the same lustrous gem
The ch il d sat by a l ittle low tea ta b le examining
—
th em the ta b le b eing Dougal s wo rkm ansh i p
—
and gi f t and on the floo r at h er f eet were beau
ti f ul b ri dle s wonder f ul ly woven f rom horse
h ai r b raided rawh ide qui rts buckskin b ags full
of fl int a rrowhead s p ieces o f rock b earing cu ri
o u s im ages of m aple leaves and fi sh
perh ap s
found on th e b a rren pl ains m ile s f rom wate r
an d tree s an d every thi ng th at th e generous and
ado ring cow punche r heart coul d devi s e
The sta b le hel d Pi geon s rival the l i ttle bl ack
Pe h ta with a sp i ri t l ike the west wi nd an d a
hea rt a s gentle as a dove A few days s i nce L en
h ad b rough t h im f rom the b reaks of the Y ellow
s tone at the s ame time p a rting w i th s eve ral
month s wage s as Wi ll i am deci ded in helples s
distre ss N aya w as wi l d over h is b eau ty b ut
a f ter L en was ou t o f s igh t s he h ad sought ou t
Pigeon an d vowed her ete rn al fideli ty
Will i am s at looking at h e r and wa s s ta rtled
a fresh by a c e rtain i nde fi nabl e s ometh i ng wh ich
gave h im a gl impse o f w h at her wom anhood
migh t be T h ere w as a l ittle dull a c he at h i s
W a r E agl e
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1 64
,
A STORY O F THE B IGHORN CO U NTRY
h ea r t t h e s e d ay s fo r al th ou gh the h eavy wi n
ter snows an d a mo s t c a refu l s co u ting o f th e
c oun try tol d h im the re wa s no imme d i ate d ange r
y et the tho u gh t of s p ring fil led h im wi th d read
B u t his b roo d ing moo d wa s no t i n a c co rd wi th
th e Ch ristm a s gayety a roun d h im he deci d ed
an d he rou s e d h im s el f j u s t a s L en c ame to c ro ss
two s wo r d s on t h e p l atfo rm erected on one s i d e
o f th e room an d Dougal i n ki lt s c a p an d d i rk
o f th e S c otti s h H ighl an de r entered to th e s o u n d
o f a ba g p i p e
T h e bi g S cotchm an pl u nge d i n to
h is s wo r d d ance wi th a g race an d l ightne ss o f
foot th at woul d h ave done c redi t to a p r e m i ere
da ns e u s e wh i le th e pl ai ntive p as to ral melody
b reath i n g the frag rance o f th e p i n k heathe red
H ighl ands w as now s oft and d reamy now wil d
an d quick E ve ryone be c ame qu i te b reath less
an d f ro z en eyed a s he watche d t h e i ntricate
l igh tni ng s teps w h ich neve r on c e tou c hed the
s h ini ng s wo r d s b u t went o n an d on a c ro ss and
a round t h em to th e r h yth m of th e s h ril l melody
floati ng h i gh above the h a rs h d rone fifth s T he re
w as a s u dden s ilen c e an d Dougal s tep ped down
“
a s red a s h is ki lts an d puffi n l i k e a s now p low
”
a boock i n d ri ft s a s h e s ai d
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16 5
The ne x t nu m be r on th e p rogram w as a duet
“
by L en and Wi ggy enti tled
Tum b leweed
”
Pete s F i rst H eade r
th ei r b roth ers of th e
round u p swell ing th e cho rus Th is receive d
voci ferous ap plause especi al ly f rom the mod
est pe rfo rme rs them s elve s w h o wi th gre at
show s o f shynes s an d reluctance next f avo red
“
th e as s embl age wi th the elegant Why the
”
Tom ato C an
Pico alone seemed unap p re c i ative T h e l ittle
S p an ish vaquero w h o h ad d ri f ted to th e f a r
no rthern range no one knew why no r how w as
p revai led u pon to b ring h i s gu i ta r from the
b unk hou s e an d to i ts tinkl ing accomp animent
“
h e b reath ed ra th er th an s ang the p a s sionate E l
”
To rmento de A mo r
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Tu mar
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ch i
t as
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te
l a fu
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en
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te
de
ma
vi
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da
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”
“
S ay th e meaning o f the p retty so f t words
s ai d N aya l eaning toward h im h er f ace elo
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1 66
NAYA
“
”
We m u st go home sai d M rs C a rve r and
sh e b egan to collect he r u nwill ing b rood
Wiggy r an to th e s ta b le f o r th e b ig bay s an d
the sled T he nigh t was col d and clea r an d
th e sky s napped an d fl ashed wi th great falling
Sta r s
“
”
G ooda ni gh ta s ai d Pico s s oft voi c e an d
b ending wi th a gentle smile h e kissed the h an d
“
Z ank you f o r z e d o na
N aya h el d to h im
I
wil l do mysel f z e h ono r to teach you z e leetle
—
wo rds o ne day L a C al an dri a I s ang it not
”
—
ees also ver b e l l a A d i os S eno ri ta
H e kissed H ann ah s h an d also muc h to th at
pu ri tanical l ady s su rp rise an d vexation bu t s he
f orgave h im fo r the s ake o f h i s lovely music an d
spoke some ki nd wo rds as with the gran d ai r of
a S p anish cou rtier he bowed h imsel f out
“
”
Th e cu rly headed s ingin grea s e r i d iot
thou ght L en wi th j ealo u s wrath
H e woul d not p resume to kis s even the s ole
”
“
o f he r li ttle moccasin and he re th is
dago h a d
h ad the I mpu dence to actu ally kiss her h and I t
was too much
S tanding b a reheaded i n th e
snow he th rew th e l ittle C a rver s i nto t h e s led
“
”
h al f of them changing ends i n th e p roce ss
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1 68
A S T ORY O F TH E B IGHO R N C O U NT RY
T h ey w i l d ly clu t c he d th ei r d oll ie s an d b ag s
of
goodie s bu t fo rt u n ately the re wa s a p lenti ful
p ad d ing o f c loth i ng an d h ay an d they eventu a l
l y tu rne d ri gh t s i d e u p witho u t s u s taini ng any
m ish ap s
”
“
I t i s onl y ei g h t N aya w as begging o f H a n
n a h a s h e en tered the hou s e
Sh anty C l au s an d
”
I wan t to pl ay j ust o n e game
S omewh at ap pea s e d Len s oon fo u n d h i m s el f
op po s i te h i s c e d a r c rowne d godde ss wi th the
new c ribb age boa r d between th em
“
”
H us h S h e s ai d s u ddenly s top p i n g to l i s ten
T h e hu ng ry wil d th ings o f p l ai n an d moun
ta i n we re ab ro ad i n the s ilen t n i gh t Th e wie rd
wai l i ng o f coyote s wa s b roken b y the deep mel
a nch ol
o
h
owl
f
a
wol
f
an
d
fa
r
o
ff
i
n
a
d
i
ffe
rent
y
d i rection c ame th e fain t almo s t h um an sc ream
o f a c o u ga r
Wil l i am l oo k ed at N a y a Sh e love d to h ea r
t h e m T h e ki mona s s il k en fol d s fell ba c k f rom
h e r up l i fted h an d an d h e r h ea d w as s l i gh tly
t u rn ed i n an attitude o f l i s ten in g I n s tinctive
d rea d m ing l ed wi th d el i gh t s h own i n he r eye s
an d fo r a fleeting in s tan t Wi ll i am saw i n he r the
i m age of i nno c en t yo u th hea rin g t h e fi rs t faint
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I 69
N A YA
footfall o f desti ny the destiny that treads but
once th e deep i nner p athway of a woman s soul
an d eithe r c atche s h e r up i n raptu r e o r p ass es
an d leaves h er to da rknes s an d tear s I t w as bu t
th e i dea o f a mind whose fi rm textu re w as i nte r 3
woven wi th the ri ch th read s o f i n s tin c tive a rt
bu t as th ey tu rned to thei r game he d ropped h i s
boo k an d h i s th ough ts became mo re personal
H e k new her s w as a n atu re wh ich woul d lea rn
an d develop not th rough the advice an d e x pe ri
ence o f other s b u t only th rough i ts ow n tragi c
u pheaval s The b i tterness o f l i f e f o r s uch a s sh e
c onsi s ts not i n i t s to rtu ri ng i nner confl icts b u t i n
the emp ty wo rl d one finds when on ri s ing
strength ened and en riched and wo rthy th e h and s
a re f ul l of a s hes an d H ap p ines s s inks below th e
fa r ho ri z on to retu rn no mo re S ome almost fo r
g otten wo r d s of L a B ruy ere s floated ac ross h i s
memo ry L a p l u p a r t d er h omm e s e mp l oi e nt Ia
p r e m i er e p a rti e d e l e u r v i e
r e n d re l a u tr e
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m isera b l e
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H i s c on s cien c e m a d e i t qu i te c l ea r
h im
th at i t wa s im p o ss ible to k eep h e r i n th is
wi l d e r ne s s m any yea rs longe r bu t c o u l d h e pu s h
s u ch a n atu re i nto the vo rte x o f l i fe un gu a r ded ?
,
I 7O
to
C H A PT E R
!
Wh en d a i s i e s p ie d a nd vi ol ets bl u e
A n d l a dy smo ck s a ll Si lv er w h i te
An d c u ck oo b uds o f y e llo w hu e
Do p a in t th m e do w s w i th d e l i gh t
L
S H A S PERE—L
-
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e
a
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ov e s
K
’
a bou r s
L os t
.
When N aya rose the moon was a great s phere
o f wh ite fi re h anging a b ove the j agged c rests of
the B igho rns The b i rds b egan call ing i n the
th ickets an d ri f ts o f pearly l ight ri ppled the
dusky clou ds i n th e east A s the pearl melted
to rose and the rose fl amed to c rim s on th e flow
e rs sti rred and whispered togethe r i n the f resh
wi nd f o r th ey too s eemed to real i ze th at a m o
m e ntou s day was app roach ing
I t was a wil d
sweet dawn an d N aya s heart s ang l ike a b i r d
as she ran into th e O pen A Skyl a rk was s tream
i ng upwa rd S he watched i t b reathlessly as i t
fluttered l ike a ti ny lea f against t h e b lue i ts ca s
cades o f s ilve r song now richly p assion ate now
f aintly sweet Showering the ea rth l ike the mu s i c
of anothe r wo rl d
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17 2
A ST ORY O F THE B IGHORN C O U NT RY
mon th s th e y h a d ta lk e d o f not h i n g bu t
th i s c am p ing tri p to t h e B ighorn M o u ntai n s
I t h a d been p rom i s e d fo r l ate J u ne b u t s p ri n g
a s i f move d b y lovi ng p i ty fo r thei r imp atience
h a d come a month ea rl i e r th an u s u al s weep in g
the l an d l ike a wa rm ti d al wave an d weavin g the
h ill s wi th flower s u ntil th ey a pp ea r e d l i k e fol d
on fol d o f go rgeous b roca d e
The s emi an nu al roun d u p h a d p a ss e d a few
d ay s s ince A f te r the c al v e s h a d been b r an d e d
an d c o u nte d an d th e her d s dispe r s e d to the
pl ain s Will i am p lu n g ed i n to th e p rep aration s
fo r th ei r tri p wi th a s much glee a s th e c h il d ren
A rth u r h ad neve r been to th e mou ntai n s , an d h e
wa s f ai rly s teep ed i n excited anti c i p ation s w h ile
N aya w h o h el d al l out d oo r l i fe i n th e mo s t p a s
si on ate a d o ration h ad been cou nti n g the d ay s
U nh ap p ily fo r H ann ah s hop e s the l ong
loo k e d fo r p i ano h a d been en g u l fe d i n a ra g i ng
s tream a too c lo s e acq u ai ntance wi t h th e w h is k y
bottle h aving insp i red th e frei gh te r to attem p t
a c ro ss i n g T herefo re a s i de f rom t h e usu al
amou nt o f rea d i ng an d s tu dy wh i c h Willi am re
qu i red o f he r daily N aya h ad d on e noth ing the
whol e s p ri ng b u t pl an fo r th i s hol i day D u r
For
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I 73
N AYA
ing th e i r ab s ence H annah w as going to v isi t
s ome E astern frien d s who h ad re c ently located
i n C heyenne but desp i te her h app ines s over the
p rospective renewal o f old and dea r rel ation s
sh e be c ame mo re an d mo re restles s a s th e time
ap p roached fo r thei r dep a rtu re
Len s ai d h e w as actu ally b e c omin g tatooed
“
wi th admon itions s uch a s B e s u re sh e puts on
” “
h er j er s ey wh en th e s un goe s down
Don t let
”
he r fall i n S met L ake K eep he r away f rom
”
poi s on o ak etc et c fo r h e hea r d noth ing else
w as pe rmitted to th ink o f noth ing else an d
d reamed of noth ing else H e inked th e l atte r
wa rning on his forea rm an d showed i t to H an
n ah as a p roof th at mental d erangement woul d
soon a s s ail h im
B u t i t w as her fi r s t S ep a ration from N aya s ince
the ch i ld h ad come i nto her l i fe to l ighten the
b u rden o f memo ry and lonel iness an d he r heart
ached wi th an app rehen s ion th at sh e hersel f
coul d not understan d Wa s n t h e r ow n father
goi ng with he r ? C oul d the re be a greater and
deepe r as s u rance th an th at o f h i s p resence ? He
—
—
a d ored h er b u t th e m an d he r chee r f ul
though ts fal tered all men were careless at times
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1 74
NAYA
’
don t yo u wo rry a bi t C ome ou t an d se e o l d
J un i pe r O f all the vi ll ai nous ol d f ools h e s th e
worst b ut h e s su re a J im d andy i n the moun
tain s C a rries th ree time s as big a p ac k as the
”
othe r mu les and b e s t of all never f alls down
Wh ateve r J uni pe r s goo d qu al ities migh t b e
h e certainly d i d not give the imp ression of a
l ikely c ompeti to r i n a b eau ty show H e h ad
been n amed s o they say fo r ol d J uni per S im p
h is f o rme r maste r b u t b y s tretch ing th e
so n
im agin ation somewh at i t w as easy to tra c e a
strange l ikene s s both i n colo r an d an atomy to a
gna rled an d verdu reles s s pecimen o f the tree
desi gn ated F ancy a great u gly mule c o l ossal
i n statu re an d with a head l ike a d rome d a ry
L ong j agged Scars i n h is muscul a r flank p ro
cl aimed a s tormy youth p ro b a b ly a d e s perate
conflict with a b ea r wh ile one emp ty eye soc k et
gla red eloqu ently of s ome oth e r tooth and n ai l
conflict
J ust at p re s ent th e rem ai ning eye
fastened itsel f coyly on the grou nd as Dougal
an d Willi am attached the p ack saddle an d b e
gan h eap i ng h im with the p a raphernal i a o f
camp l i f e H i s vi rtue s wh atever they we re
coul d not enti rely de s troy the memo ry o f occa
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I 76
,
A S TORY O F TH E B IGHO R N C O U NT RY
viciou s trick s an d th ey were cong ratu l at
ing th emselve s u pon h i s goo d b eh avio r
I t must h ave given the l i ttle Peggy mu le
a quee r s en s ation i n th e p i t o f he r s tom ach a s
O l d Tom led he r p ast J u n i p e r s humbly d roop
ing h ead The c oy eye opened wi th a s u dden
v in dictive gl a re an d he gave a l a s h o f h is great
“
mu scul a r tai l a s i f to s ay Won t I j u s t kick t h e
i n o u t o f you th ough you l i ttl e ta ss eled
S tu fl
”
fool
H e d i d n t look
H i s tail wa s n t s h aved
l ike a l i ttle si ssy i n tas s eled S p ri n g h eeled Shoes
B u t of cou rse th e p a c ke r s h ad no mean s o f
divin ing these i nne r refle c tions
A s Dougal
top ped th e c oo k i ng u tens il s wi th a g reat load of
be dd i n g an d Wil li am ca s t th e rop e fo r the di a
mon d h i tch J u ni pe r h a d a s u d den th ough t
P erh ap s Peg gy s s u rren d er to h i s c h a rm s an d
g eneral s u pe rio ri ty di d no t depen d enti rely
u pon th e fo r c e an d fle e tne ss o f k i c k s Why no t
p rove to h er th at i f th e s e wo rthy gentlemen we re
s kill fu l i n p acki ng h e wa s equ ally ski ll f ul i n
u np a c k i ng
and by a reve r s e p roce s s coul d ac
comp lish i n tw o mi nu tes w h at h ad ta k en th em
h al f an hou r
The rO pe tickled h is fl an k Th at wa s an
si onal
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1 77
N AYA
ex c ellent e xc u s e H i s fi rst lunge b rought the b ed
d i ng over on h i s tail an d the a x h andle touched
h is si de H eavens wh at h ad they put o n h im ?
H e h ad only j umped f o r f u n b u t th is w as f right
ful Pe rh aps th at well remem b ered grizzly
whose Skull h e h ad finally c rushed wi th h is u h
e rring heel s h ad su ddenly come to li f e there on
h is tail H e f o rgot l ittle Peggy an d h i s amorous
though ts
H e f o rgot everyth i ng except th at
aw f ul l ive thing that must be disposed o f
no m atter wh at th e cost The chickens screamed
an d fled H annah made a snatch at N aya b u t
seeing th at th at l ittl e wil d cat had al ready scaled
th e co rral fence di d not stop until Sh e w as s a f e
wi th in th e stable Thump ! B ang ! C ra s h !
F ryi ng p an s ti n pl ates buckets an d Du tch oven s
Sp illed from th e s addle bag s with the upwa rd
impetu s o f s kyrockets and b l ankets enough to
b ed an a rmy were fluttering an d flapp ing and u n
f ol ding i n the win d I n the b eginning i t was a
l ittle ou tbu rst o f h i s trion ic talent bu t now the
erstwh ile comedi an was deadly i n ea rnest an d
i n such a state o f hysteri a that he coul d not h ave
stopp ed h ad h e wanted to H e h a d to m th e
rope f rom Will i am s h an ds an d w as f ast ap
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I 78
N A YA
an d i t was now as b ig as a mol as s e s k eg A rth u r
gri eved to leave him b u t the tri p woul d be h a rd
and as a compens ation he h ad been given F i re
fly the somewh at excita b le b ut swi f t f ooted
ch am pion o f all the Powde r R ive r meets N aya
was to ri de Pigeon an d the b eau ti f ul F ehta
ru nning a b ou t loose was to follow the p arty
p rovi di ng an extra mount i n case of m ish ap
H e h ad developed i nto the most extrao rdin a ry
pet sh adowi ng N aya l ike S ah ke e the f awn
They wi th Tweed we re romp i ng a b ou t he r now
and suddenly Pe h ta s l ip ped b eh in d he r an d tak
i ng he r a rm very gently i n h i s teeth hung f ast
until Len d rove h im away
Wh en at l ast the l i ttle c aval c a d e sta rted
D ougal h ad to hol d tigh tly to the f rantic
dog wh ich they had deci ded to leave beh in d a s
ru inou s to hu nting and the dee r h aving been
coerced i nto the corral m ade desperate attempt s
Pe h ta alone h a d h i s l i b erty
to leap the b a r s
an d h e c i rcle d around them joyou s ly hi s l u x u ri
ant m ane an d tail b lowing in the win d H an
nah wave d a c h eery goodby b u t h er h eart was
h eavy S ome h ow they al l fel t s t r ange ly deserte d
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1 8o
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTR Y
and alone as t h e camp i ng p a rty d isap pea re d i n
the sunny h ills
Will i am mounted on bi g gray R aj ah ro d e at
th e hea d of th e p ro c e ss ion w h i le N aya an d
A rth u r f ollowed c lo s e at h i s heel s Then c ame
J uni p e r s olemn as an owl an d a s well b eh aved
”
“
as th e tradi tion al
dea d I nj un an d clo s e be
h i n d him wa s th e rel i abl e H attie w h ose p rim
n es s an d p recision of ways rem i nded o ne o f an
O l d m a i d s chool m a rm
Little Peg gy wi t h a
c oat l i k e g ray p lu s h b rou gh t u p th e rea r S he
wo u l d n o t keep the roa d bu t i n s p i red b y you th
an d a wh im s ical i ty s ai d to be ch a racte ri s ti c o f
h e r sex s ta rte d ac ross th e p l ai n s at a b ris k trot
p ack b obbi ng wi l dly a s i f s h e k new where to
fin d mo re des i rab le comp any Len w h o h a d
b een d el ayed a momen t came d ash i ng i n pu r
s ui t an d fin al ly coaxed th e ca p riciou s f em ale to
a p l ace between J un i pe r an d H a ttie T he fo rm
e r ins tantly lo s t h i s regai ned repu tation by let
ti ng fly h i s h eel s an d th e te rri fied l ady d ese rte d
once mo re only i n anoth e r di rection A t l ast
S h e wa s i n s talle d be h i nd the s ti ff an d l a d yl ike
M iss H attie an d Len on C omet fo rme d a rea r
gu a r d
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18 1
N AY A
H e decided th at he had m anaged b adly fo r
he wanted to ri de wi th N aya H owever he h a d
to content h imsel f with the view of he r s l im u p
righ t figu re i n i ts s imp le f rock of b rown home
spu n and the long pu rple da rk b rai ds th at fell
low o n ei the r s i de He r f athe r h ad p rovi ded
a li gh t weigh t somb re ro b ut she carried i t
c rushed u nde r he r a rm N ow an d again sh e
tu rned to smile o r wave th e disdained h at at L en
a s f ragmen ts o f h is song floated to her ac ro ss the
b acks o f th e p ack an imal s
He r fou rteenth b i r th day h a d p a ss e d S he wa s
now in h er fi f teenth yea r L en s s ong s u ddenly
cease d an d he closed h is eyes H e h ad neve r
though t o f j us t th a t an d the s plendi d untamed
b lood o f twenty one leaped to h is hea rt B u t i t
w as l i ke d reami ng of the great lumino u s s ta r
th at h a d gu ided h im ove r the B ighorn s the
n igh t of h is long ri de A thou s an d voices
seemed to clamo r in h is ea rs b u t h is sp i ri t l i f ted
a s tern h an d and they were s ilenced H is mo
menta ry w re s tle h ad ca rried h im so fa r th at
when h e opened h is eyes the flower s trewn h ills
s eemed oddly remote an d un real
Wh at flowers ! D eep ro s e h ued cacti wi th
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1 82
fa r a b ove w as still m antled i n Splendo r bu t th e
sh adows we re deep en ing i n ca non and fo rest a s
the p a rty f ollowed the trail leading to B i g
Piney F o r the country h ad u ndergone a great
ch ange since the mo rning I nstead o f the richly
c arpeted p rai ri e the h ome o f the cactu s an d
soap pl ant deli cate moun tai n flower s wave d
so f tly i n the twil igh t f o res t an d the su dden
fl igh t of the c rested b lue j ay flashed i n the gloom
o f th e p ines
L en p receded them d riving the p ac k an im als
befo re h im an d they followed at a rap i d p ace
H e h ad al ready selecte d a camp s ite and wi th
skilled an d p racticed h an ds w as relievi ng the
m ules o f th ei r loads an d ho bb l ing the runaways
D u ri ng the sup pe r p rep a ration s N aya an d
A rthu r on an explori ng expedi tion c ros s ed on
a f a l len log to a l i ttle isl an d i ts dusky sho res
w reath ed wi th the singing waters o f B i g Piney
A su dden gleam came to them f rom the op posite
b ank and hol ding h ands an d c reep ing close r
‘
th ey peeked th rough the d ense un dergrowth
T here by a great fi re were tw o I n di an s A rthu r
pul le d N aya b a c k
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1 84
A STO R Y O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NT R Y
“
”
“
! ui c k ,
h e s ai d before th ey d i sc o v e r ou r
”
c amp We m u s t get out of h ere
”
“
N o sh e s aid pull in g away an d l a u gh i ng a
“
l i ttl e a t h is te rri fied m anne r they a re C rows
a mo s t n i c e race an d now frien dly to u s the
B l a c k feet T hey know al ready th at w e a re h e re
O ne fools n eve r the I n di an S ee th ey m a k e
g e s tu re s i n ou r di rection I g o to i nvi te t h em to
s up pe r Y o u ru n an d tell L en to c ook a l l the
antelop e They e at a s th e wolve s the s e n ice
”
C row s
T h e fl am i n g fi re r eveale d an op eni ng i n th e
t ree s and s ee i ng a n atu ral b ri dgeway o f d ri ft
wood sh e ran n im b ly ac ross i t an d i n to th e l igh t
o f th e camp fi re
H e r imp etuosi ty Struck hor
ro r to A rth u r s s oul fo r to h i m I n di an s were
symbol ic o f scal p ing kn ive s an d ma ss a c re L i ttle
t ranqu il C l i fdal e knew th em not i n fa c t h e h a d
n eve r s een one ex c ep t i n th e fade d re pro du c
tion s w h ich fu rth er th e rom an c e an d d rea d of
“
”
th e
Leathe r S tockin g Tales
H is hea rt
th u m p ed wil d ly H e tri e d to c atc h h e r to c all
h e r b a c k b u t h is voi c e w as lo s t i n th e ro a r of the
b affle d s t r eam a s i t lea p e d an d d as h e d agai nst
t h e b a rri cade s of d ri ft woo d The re wa s noth i ng
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1 85
N AY A
to do b u t follow for he woul d rather h ave die d
th an a b andoned her to those savage s
“
”
H ow
sh e s ai d gaily to a s quatting redski n
who wa s ki ndl i ng a tiny cooking fi re at a short
d istance f rom the m ain o ne
H e wa s a Slende r young buck with a q u anti ty
o f th ick bl a c k h ai r h anging a b out h i s CO ppe r
colo red f ace and when h e rose i t was wi th the
l issomene s s o f a ca relessly f olded ri bb on wh ich
one l i f ts b y th e end He smiled am i ably s how
i ng a row of very wh ite teeth
”
How l ittle l ady Y ou come c amp ? an d h e
waved h is h and toward thei r camp ing ground
”
“
N oth ing o f the s ini s ter M agu a here though t
A rthu r b u t despite the young I ndi an s f rank
an d pleasan t m anne r h i s susp icions were u nal
l ayed
“
”
“
Ye s
m ake you the h un t i n th i s
sh e s miled
”
b eauti f ul co u ntry ?
—
H u nt ? No good h u nt H el p ol d m an H e
”
—
—
hunt N o hun t dee r no hu n t el k hunt rocks
an d an exp re ssion o f di s gu s t momentarily b lotted
“
th e good n atu r e f rom h i s fea tu re s
Y ou
”
h unt ?
“
“
N
but my cou si n pe r
sh e s ai d
no t I
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1 86
,
an d hospi tal ity By the l ight of t h e leap
i ng fi re th e m ischievous young C row noticed
the d istrus t an d anx i e ty i n th e b oy s b lue eyes
an d p ut o ne h an d ca relessly i nside h i s b uck
skin Sh i rt f rom wh ich A rth u r expected h im to
d raw a kn i f e at any instant
G ood eveni ng my dea r young f rien d s I
”
wish to ask you a few questions
The chil d ren tu rned with a sta rt an d the re be
h in d them wa s a l ittle ol d man i n a long gray
u lste r A n ol d f ash ioned mu ffl e r w as knotte d
a roun d h i s neck an d a wa rm b l ack cap p ro
They h ad
t e c te d h is head f rom th e n igh t chill
not seen h im b e f o re f o r he came f rom the op po
s i te s i de o f th e great camp fi re an d h ad b een
conceale d by smoke an d fl ames E vidently h e
h ad b een reading i n i ts l igh t f o r one wi the red
h an d retained a p l ace i n h is b ook
“
I h ave come to th is i nteresti ng region i n the
n ame o f science my dea r young f riends Y onde r
“
”
p e ak an d h e waved h is h an d vaguely is of
feldsp ath ic grani te syenite an d gneiss while
not f ar distant from the ve ry ground w e stand
u pon are rocks o f S ilu rian an d T ri assi c B ut I
sea rch especi al ly the valued remains o f the
l i ne ss
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1 88
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTRY
B rontoth eri um of th e M io c ene a g e H a v e yo u
h a pp ene d to see any of tho s e p r e c io u s rel i cs i n
y o u r wande ring s ?
N aya gul ped Why h a d n t Sh e s tu d ie d h e r
E n g li s h h a rde r th en m aybe She woul d know
wh at h e w as tal k ing a b o u t S he c a s t a rap i d
g l an c e at A rth u r b ut h e w as d u mb Th en h e r
b ewi l de re d g a ze rested on th e l i the yo u ng C row
who Stoo d a l ittle b ehi n d h is p atron an d ch a rge
H e tappe d Signific antly on h is fo rehea d an d
wi th s u d d en though t b egan exp l ai n ing i n th e
Si gn l anguage s o well known to mos t o f th e
abo rigi nal tribes o f A me ri ca N aya knew
enough to comp rehend the gis t o f h is m eaning
“
H a rmle ss o l d m an
H e h un t s bone s an d
r oc k s We are h is gu i des
“
”
I k now s o l i ttle o f th e E ngl i s h Sh e s ai d
s weetly tu rni ng to h im bu t I am s u re th at
fathe r know s wh at you ask H e k now s ve ry
”
mu ch I ask you an d you r gu i de s to s upp e r
”
Wah hoo c ame echoing th rough th e fo re s t
f rom L en s lu s ty lu ng s
”
“
“
”
C ome on Sh e s ai d i t i s r ea d y
The ol d m an f ollowe d h e r docilely an d th e
you n g C row h el p e d h im o v e r t h e d ri ft woo d
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1 89
N AYA
wi th a c a re th at w as almost fil i al A rth u r kep t
di rectl y beh in d N aya H e expected a kni fe i n
h is b ack b ut he meant to Sh iel d he r whateve r
the cost Why h ad she done th i s ? H e thought
th at h e u n de rstood h is l i ttle Wyoming cousi n
less and les s The whole th ing w as per f ectly
a s tound ing M o s t gi rl s woul d h ave ru s hed
b ac k to camp an d let thei r elder s atten d to the
amenities o f c h ance acqu aintance s hi p b ut here
sh e h ad ap p roached these strange rs wi thou t any
p relim i na ri e s and wi th the ai r an d composu re
of a p rince ss h a d i nvi ted the whole c am p to
s u p pe r T h e am azement o f Wi ll i am and L en
may well be imagi ned when she appea red wi th
h er retinue o f tw o C row I n di an s and a l i ttle ol d
man in grote s que Spe c tacles
“
”
The l ittle m inx s ai d Wil l i am l a u gh ing
s oftly to h im s el f as h e u ntied some antelope
h ams from the b ranch o f a nea rby tree Len h ad
c aught a few trout i n C lear F o rk ea rly i n the
afternoon wh ich h e h a d p rep a re d for thei r su p
per but th e s e al though in mo d erate abundance
were p l ainly i n s u ffi cien t fo r s o l a rge a pa rty
Howeve r wi th t h e h el p of t h e tw o frien d l y
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1 90
N A YA
”
no rth
a ss ented Willi am as h e p u t a trou t on
h is strange guest s p l ate
“
”
Z e dea r Pico f o r i n s tance
s ai d Len i n an
undertone as A rthu r passed the cup th ey were
fo rced to sh a re b etween th em
“
I t is ce rtain my dea r f rien d Wa s h ington
I rving i n h i s estim a b le volume entitle d
A stori a h as sai d The S p an ia rds ch anged the
whole ch a racter an d h a b its o f the I n di an when
they b rough t the ho rse among them A n i ndel
”
i b le assu rance is imp rinted u pon my mental i ty
The f an ati c h ad some one to listen to h im an d
h is voi ce b ecame ten s e an d eage r
“
There a re mani f ol d p roo f s Th e j o u rn al o f
the valorous L ewis an d C l ar k state s th at th e
ho rs es o f th e a b origines were cap a ri s one d wi th
accoutermen ts of H isp an ic design
I n 1 865
ru ins o f ancient stone dwell ings were fou nd i n
th i s ve ry region I t i s he re in the s e dark moun
tai nou s de fi l e s th at I s eek t h e rem ain s o f Don
J u an d e O nate s famou s explo ration and h i s
c itie s o f fabulou s wealth an d s plen d o r T he
l egen d s come to us f rom th e f ri ars of th e h oly
”
S ain t F ran c i s o f A s s isi B ut and here his
“
thou gh ts s traye d a g ain of all e x tin c t mamm al i a
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1 92
,
A STORY O F THE B IGHORN CO U NT RY
I fin d th e l ael aps th e mo s t i nte resti n g T h ey
weighed m any ton s h ad teeth l ike s wo r d s , an d
th e b ronto s a u r
”
“
H oo h oo
came f rom an i ron ic ol d ow l
w ay o ff i n the p i nes an d A rthu r whose fea r h a d
s omewh at a b ated j um ped u p an d b e g an hop
p in g a roun d th e fi re on one foot s ayi ng the
oth e r h a d gone to sleep B u t h is actions we re a
l ittle s u s p ic ious fo r a f oot asleep i s not the fu n
n iest s ens ation i n th e wo rl d a s h is m i rt h s eeme d
to te s ti fy
Th e ol d gentleman s tu c k to Wi l l i am l i k e a
pl aste r I f th e l atte r went to t h e c ree k fo r a
d ri n k there he was at h i s elbow wi th h i s con
fused h a rangue o f d ry f acts an d vis ion a ry fa n
c ie s I t woul d h ave been lu d icrou s h ad i t no t
been so p iti f ul B u t th e m isch ievous C row w as
d el i gh ted an d w h en h is p atron i n s tructe d t h a t
thei r c am p b e moved next to th at o f h i s new
f rien d the gleefu l R ush ing Wi n d (fo r by th i s
time N aya h ad l ea rned not only h i s name b u t
h i s w h ole fam ily h i s to ry ) went o ff th roug h th e
tree s perform in g a s eries o f c razy antic s th at
m ade even th e dismayed Wi ll i am l augh
N aya s be d w as u n d e r a g r eat p ine nea r t h e
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I 93
N AY A
c ree k with a l acewo rk of sh ru bs sc reen ing i t
f rom th e fi re Th e s p rin gy b ranches o f the
young fi r fo rmed a m attress an d o n these L en
h ad a rranged the b l ankets an d l ittle p illow
A suggestion f rom he r fathe r sent he r early
to b ed b u t sh e compl ied with great reluctance
fo r i t was s till a mystery whethe r he h ad meant
h e r teeth o r her h ai r M ay b e i t was he r nose !
F ea r f ul thought ! He r fathe r s b ed w as clo s e to
h e r own an d sh e meant to stay awake until he
came b u t soon the m u rm e r of the stream grew
d reamy an d f a r away an d the ni gh t win d laden
wi th th e odo r of b alsam an d the per f umes o f
sp ri ng touche d h e r ch e ck wi th s ooth ing finger s
an d She slept
S he w as awakened abou t five m i nute s afte r
ward s sh e though t b y a great c rackl i ng an d
there was L en b ending ove r the fi re with the
co ff ee pot i n h i s h and an d th e day h a d b egun
He r f athe r was sti ll asleep H is fine face grave
an d qu iet as a mask w as clea rly discerni b l e i n
the gray dawn an d h is great chest rose an d f ell
at regula r in te rv als L ean ing on one el b ow
sh e reache d ove r an d l i gh tly to u c he d h i s ch e ck
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1 94
n atu r ed came leading h is p atron s stout b rown
n ag I hope you will b o th b e p aleontologis ts
an d th us b ecome no b le aids i n th e illumi n ation
”
o f the mode rn wo rl d
”
“
G olly ! Wh at kind of a bea s t i s th at ? s ai d
A rth u r i n Len s ea r a s the dep arting gues t tu rne d
to Wil li am
H e assu red h im o f h i s h ope to r e s ume at no
l ate d ate th e i nspi ri ng convers ation of th e night
befo re f o r a f ter exami ning th e i nteresting de
posi ts wh ich the young man h ad des c ribe d h e
woul d retu rn an d overtake them
”
“
s ai d L en fly
S pe ak i n o f h i ttin the trail
“
i ng a rou n d wi th the b reak f ast th ings we won t
”
stop ti ll we ve r ea c hed the Teton s
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,
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! I
C H A PT E R
ouls m a d e o f fi a n d chi ld ren o f th
W i th w hom rev enge i s v ir tu e
Th
YOU N G—
S
e
re ,
sun,
.
e
Re ve ng e
.
F ive d ay s h a d p a ss e d s i nce th ey left t h e c am p
on B i g Pi ney du ring wh i c h th ey h a d wan de red
eve r f a rth e r an d deepe r i nto th e wil de rne ss
Th e th i rd mo rn i ng Will i am an d N aya h ad left
the others agreei ng to m eet th em at a State d
ren dezvous th e even ing o f the s econ d d ay
They foun d th e l i ttle s u n su ff use d p l atea u
wi th i ts sh rine o f grani te s till enc ru s ted wi th
s now but th e green m argi n edgi ng the d ri ft s
was sp rin k led wi t h flowe rs s o ti ny an d wh i te
th at th ey re s emble d bewi tch ed s nowfl a k e s
Wre ath s of b lu e fo rget me not s d anced bl i thely
i n the col d u pl an d wi nd s th ei r slen de r s tem s and
f ai r faces an exquisite tra c e ry on the s now s they
bo r d ere d T o defeat t h e W i n d s s weep ing pu r
p ose th e b ranches o f t h e wil d ro s e an d s yri nga
w h ich th ey b rough t f rom below we re p in ione d
wi t h r o c k s b u t i t s tri ppe d t h e d e l i c ate p i n k an d
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I 97
w h i te p etals wi th merciles s glee an d fille d the
a i r as wi th s now eddies flushed with dawn
“
C ome d arl ing
s ai d Wi ll i am , wrap p ing
N aya s cloak close r a b out he r
H e always restrained his grie f i n he r p resence
an d h is m anne r w as as qu iet as usual Hereto
f o re thei r visits to the s acred s pot h ad filled he r
h ea rt only wi th j oy an d tende rness S he h ad
never s eemed to real ize th at h e r mothe r w as
dead an d each yea r th is p ilgrim age i n the
“
M oon o f F lowers w as l ike a mystic h an d
leading he r f a rthe r an d f a rther i nto a worl d of
d ream thoughts an d sp i ri ts B ut to day he r hea rt
was heavy
N o no fath er ! N ot yet Perh ap s w e come
”
not again an d ass ailed b y a s trange p resenti
ment Sh e d ropped to the groun d s o b bing
p i teously
He knel t so as to Shelter he r from the Stinging
win d and al though her out b u r s t h ad Sh aken the
f o rtress o f h is own grief he steadied h is trem
bli ng voice an d talked to her as only a fathe r
c an talk to the ch ild h e loves an d un derstand s
T he followi ng day they h ad joi ned th e others
N ot even to Will i am d i d sh e al lud e to t h ei r
.
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1 98
h azel eye s be c ame mo re clea rly b rown u ntil
th ey glowed with th e ric h depth one s ometimes
s ees i n a topaz Then he tu rned away
“
“
No ! h e s ai d to himsel f no ! no !
These we re days o f struggle f o r the young cow
p unche r H e h ad neve r an alyzed h is feel ing
I t was a wo rsh ip ch a rged wi th
f o r the c h i ld
”
“
transcen d en t wonde r an d mingled wi th the
asp i rations evoked b y a lovely flowe r o r a su b
l ime sunset B ut th at meteo rlike thought wh ich
h ad flashed ac ross the clea r s p aces o f h i s u ncon
sci o u sne ss the mo rn i ng o f thei r dep a rtu re h ad
changed h is whole i nne r l i f e A t fi rst he h ad
b een so repelled b y wh at he cons i dered h is di s
l oyal ty to M r Du nsmui r that he h ad tu rned
from i t agai n and again wi th u nch angeable
ri gi di ty o f p u rpo s e Howeve r a s th e days
p assed i t h aunted h im mo re and mo re i nsi s t
ently u n til with a bl aze o f anger h e wheele d to
f ace an d fight i t
”
“
I n the fi rst pl ace you a re unworth y h e
c ried s h a k ing th i s fi r s t deci s ive weapon at h is
foe B u t Len h ad sel f re s pect H e h ad b een no
angel an d h e k new it ; bu t ever s i n c e h i s uncle
h ad ta k en h im from the o rp h an a s yl u m and
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20 0
A STOR Y O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
b ro u gh t h im We s t n ine yea r s ago only to d i e
s oon afte r leavi ng h im a p rey to frontie r vice
h e h a d fough t th e b attle of l i fe b ravely an d h on
e stl y
an d alone H e re c oiled f rom th e wo rd
“
”
u nworth y an d sub s ti tu te d un fit
But if
”
o
u
a
re
wo
rthy
h
o
can
you
be
u
nfit
?
a
n
s
we
re
d
w
y
th e voi c e trem b l i ng wi th love an d hope Len
“
igno red th is fei n t
Why she s noth i n but a
”
l i ttl e c h il d
c ontinued the s c ru pulou s con
“
sc ience j u s t l ike o ne 0 them l ittle h a rebel ls
”
“
bobb in on th e s lop e yon de r
S h e s goi n o n
fi fteen I n f ou r o r five yea r s p e rh aps
Y ou
know w h e re th e re a re m ighty fine co al vein s ;
w h y don t yo u homestea d Why y ou cou l d be
ri c h i n five yea rs an d as fo r l e a rni n you k now
t h i n gs th at are fa r mo re u s eful an d mo re beau
”
ti ful th an anyth ing found i n books
Th i s fu s il
l a d e o f a rguments S ilence d h im an d h e gra s pe d
the s a dd le h orn wi th al l h i s m ig h t
”
”
“
“
Oh ! O h ! c ri e d N aya s ee Pe g gy !
T h at frivolo u s l ady w as c e rtai n ly i n a te r rible
fi x I t w as a wonder th at S h e h a d not b ro k en h e r
l i ttle g ra y plu s h neck b u t s un d ry s q u ea l s of
f r i gh t an d th e v i g o rou s movement s o f fou r
d ai n ty h oof s g ave ev i den c e th at on c e ri gh te d
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20 1
,
they woul d s camper abo u t as wh im s ically a s
eve r S he l ay p rone on he r back some thi rty
feet below th e trai l wh i th e r she h ad ju s t jou r
h eyed by a
se ri es of i ndeco rous somers aults
F ortunately the a rm o f a gaun t p ine had caugh t
he r i n i ts em b race and he r end ove r end cou rse
su ddenly terminated o n the b ri nk o f a p reci pice
I t w as a goo d deal he r f aul t to be s u re f o r
becom ing b o red with the staleness of existence
s he h ad th rown c aution an d cou rtesy to th e
wi nds and despite the n a rrowne s s o f the trail ,
tri ed to push p ast M is s H attie
N ow f o r a long time the p retty Peggy s
gi ddy m anne r h ad b een absolutely u nbea ra b le
to th at somewh at ac rimonious sp inste r and she
h a rbo red b itter memories o f f o rme r sligh ts an d
s el f a ss ertions Th is w as too much A quick
c row d an d poo r P eggy w as l aunch ed on the wi l d
ca ree r j ust d e s c ri b ed H atti e w as filled wi th
s n app ish s atis faction until sh e s aw th e u nl ady
l ike atti tu de O f he r victim when sh e tu rned he r
h ead th e o ther w ay h o rro r an d i ndignation
c on s u ming he r B ette r to h ave b roken her Sil ly
J uni
nec k th an be g u il ty o f s uc h m i s demeanor
p e r s g en i u s a s a mountai nee r w as r etrievi ng h is
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’
N AYA
“
u ntil Peg gy w rath f ully n ipped h i s a rm
A re
”
you getti n ti red ?
Gw ac i o u s no, a s baby C a rv e r s ay s , b u t I
”
am mos t hungry
F rom the c re s t o f th e ri dge th ey c o u l d see
th e tiny l ake lying l ike an exqui s ite s ap ph i re
i n it s enc i rcl i ng f ri nge o f ru s he s an d wate r
l il i es The slop es su rroun ding i t were not a s
densely tim b ered a s th e c a ti ons th ey h ad j u s t
le f t b u t h ere an d the re ado rning the s tretches o f
verd an t meadow were grou p s o f h emlock an d
Sp ruce a rranged wi th s uch an a rt an d p reci s ion
o f touch th at one h al f expected to se e an ancient
ca s tle risi ng i n th e m i ds t o f th is p ri ncely domain
A no b le elk c rashed th rough th e cop s e clo s e by
h i s great antlered head p rou dly e rect ; an d an
eagle bea ring a w e e Spotted fawn i n i t s talon s
Slowly flappe d i ts w ay towa rd the f rown ing cl i ff s
at the en d o f the l a k e E xube rant flowe rs o f
countless hues Seemed to s tretch th emselves i n
th e su n a s i f m aking the mo s t of th ei r s hort
l ives i n th is h igh al titu de
”
“
Y es s ai d L en i n resp onse to N ay a s excl am a
“
tions o f deli ght as s ome f ellow h a s s ai d T he re
a re eigh t month s o f winte r an d fou r of l ate
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20 4
A STORY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTRY
’
i n th e f a ll u p i n t h e s e h igh mountai ns T h e y
a re m aki n th e m os t of l i fe wh il e i t l asts Th at s
”
th e way peop le s houl d do
”
“
“
We wi ll s ai d N aya gai ly
We wi l l m ake
a s o l i ttl e c ab in h ere o n th e l ake an d w e wil l al l
”
l i v e here fo reve r !
“
Woul d y ou really l ike to l ive h e re fo reve r
i n th i s c ou ntry I mean an d not go to E ng l an d to
”
y o u r fathe r s people ?
Th ey were c ro ss ing th e s u nl i t m ea d ow now
an d d rivi ng t h e p ac k m u le s befo re th em
”
“
I t is mo s t c u rio u s sh e retu rned tho u gh t
“
f u lly I t m a k e s m e h ap py to se e th e new th i n gs
an d the new peop le bu t w h en I th in k o f goi ng
ac ro ss th e great water s to E ngl ish gran dmo th e r
i t i s a s w h en I ente r a house wi t h no ai r You
u n de rstan d ? The wi n dows no t open fo r month s
an d mon th s I t is so wit h E n g l an d I t o p en s
”
neve r i ts wi n d ow s
Len l a u ghed an d ra c e d afte r th e p e s ti fe r ou s
Pe ggy
They p i t c h e d c am p u n d e r s ome great t r ee s
w h i c h woul d a ff o rd p rotection i n c a s e o f s to rm
O ne m a ss ive fi r exci ted th ei r p arti c ul a r a d m i ra
tion Th e ti ps o f i ts b ranches d roop i n g to the
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20
5
N AY A
grou nd h ad ca ugh t root here an d th ere not
unl ike th e b anyan of I ndi a th u s f o rming a serie s
o f l i ttle a r c hed a p a rtm ent s , s oftly i llumi ned by
th e s u n
T h e oth er s we re not e x p e c te d fo r an h ou r o r
more an d as i t w as qu ite noon they flew to
thei r d i nne r p rep a rations Wh ile L en m ade the
fi re N aya ran to gathe r s ome wate r li l ie s A few
feet f rom th ei r c amp s i te w as a fl at granite
l edge p roj ecti ng i n the wate r Peering ove r its
edge s h e s aw such a lovely s ight th at i n mute
e nch antrn e nt sh e cast he rsel f fa c e d ownwar d on
the ro c k an d beckoned to Len
”
Th e wate r i s l ike ai r fo r c l ea rnes s S h e
“
whispe red an d the wate r s wallow s a re most
”
won de r f ul You must se e them
A shoal o f b eauti f ul speckle d trou t w as s wi rl
i ng an d d ri fting i n the deep wate r i n whose
c rystalline clea rnes s thei r b rill i ant s i des scintil
l ated l i k e fl ame Len w as a keen fi s herm an an d
i n a few m inu te s he h a d c augh t enough fo r
d i nne r
T h e mea l wa s almo s t rea d y wh en the call o f
th e h unte r s c ame echoing over the h ills S ensi b le
ol d R aj ah bo re t h e pel t o f a cinn amon b ea r A s
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20 6
NAYA
eff o rts no m atte r wh at th ei r d i rection an d wh en
p uddi ng time c ame i t was i ntro d uced b y th e
following o rigi nal l ines sung to th e tune o f
M y C oun try T is o f Thee
,
,
,
“
’
D ried p ru ne s it i s t thee
I h u r l a fra n tic pl ea
a
be tter gi t
Do n t d a re to Sh o w you r face
I l l kick you o ff th e pl a ce ;
La s ting i s you r d i s gr a ce
Th e tr ai l you 11 hi t
You d
’
.
’
,
’
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’
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i n a h il ariou s moo d i n d uce d by
th e conquest o f th e cinnamon b ea r and the fool
ish dogge rel filled h im wi th glee
“
Wri te ou t th e rest o f em L en an d I l l s in g
”
too I know there a re ten thousan d more
S O L en fished o u t a s tu bb y penci l and soon the
“
n a tional hym n was tran sf o rme d to the Od e to
”
C amp ing O ut
A rth u r
w as
,
,
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’
’
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.
a r d b ac on rin ds an d t
I m p retty s ick o f th ee
An d b ayo bea n s t ;
I wan t a beef s te a k bon e
M y p i llo w i s a s tone
M y fa te I loud be moan
W ith th i s I m thr ou gh
H
ea ,
’
oo
,
,
,
’
20 8
.
A S T ORY O F THE B IGHORN C O U NT RY
r a inin l ike th e d e u ce
B y G um ! my b a ck 3 a slu ice
Th e b e d 5 a l ake
Th e w ood i s so a k in w e t
A fir e I c a nn ot g et
Ri gh t here I 11 h a v e to se t
Ti l l plumb d a ybreak
It
’
’
s
,
’
,
’
.
’
,
,
’
w o rm cr aw l s o n
A
I gu e s s I l l be
’
You nee
t S c tt !
a
neck
my
,
w reck ,
sm i l
Grea
o a r a ttl es n a k e
W h a t w on d er th a t I q u a ke ;
M y thir st I d li ke t sl ake
I
un a m i l e
d
’
n t
e
,
’
’
o
ve r
A cinder
Th e W i n
’
,
.
in
s
ey e
my
,
d i s fi erce O h my
Th smoke i s ba d
I t ta g s m e e v e ryw here
I dod ge it l ik e a b
Bl a k er gr o w s my d esp ai r
I m go in m a d
.
e
,
,
.
a re,
c
,
’
’
.
p a n a k e s a re b rnt up
M y p ipe an d fi
p
l os t ou t righ t
I
There a in t a thing t
t
N w hi s ky fo r a tre a t
Thi s th i ng
g t m e pl m b e a t
Th e
c
u
co
’
ee
,
cu
ve
.
’
o ea
O
,
,
’
o
5
I 11 di e to
’
-
u
night
.
20 9
,
oh da rn my l ck
A gre a t b i g r ock I s t ru ck
An d th en th gr o n d
O h s a y there wa s a cra s h
M y b ott l e w en t t sm a sh
Th w hi s ky a ll d i d spl a s h
F
m i l e s a r oun d
Ye s
si r,
,
u
,
,
,
u
e
,
.
,
,
o
,
e
or
.
B u ck fev er
a c r se
I d soo ner d ri v e a hea rs e
Wh at a i ls my knee s ?
A q ki a sp a m I
I f be a r I cha nce t spy ;
J us t h e a r th a t c ou ga r s cry
O ff in th t ree s
just
'
8
u
,
’
,
n
ua
’
,
o
’
e
.
a s t m e a in t i t dd
I d
soo n be u n der sod
Y
nee d t r o a r
It
q u eer b t I l l be c uss ed
I g e ss my he a rt w ould b ust
I d m i ld e w plumb a n d r ust
T c om e n o mo re
Bl
’
O
,
’
’
s
n
ou
’
5
’
.
’
u
,
,
u
,
’
,
o
.
f air bl u e s ky ;
When o n th e gr ou n d I li e
I t s ee ms so ne a r
I lov e th e s ingin s tre a m
Th e lov e ly moon s br i gh t be a m
When tree s a n d flo w er s d re am
O h l ife so d ea r !
I lo
ve
th e
,
.
’
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,
2 10
N AY A
B e c a ref ul th e r e d arli n g c at c h h o ld of th at
bu s h
He h a d g one a l i ttle ahea d of th e oth e rs to
reconnoi te r H e n eed not h ave been an x iou s fo r
he r sa f ety fo r L en wa s clo s e b ehi n d an d
watc h ed eve ry s tep s h e m a d e
“
S h ades of M r s Wa rren tie th i s ove r yo u r
”
h ead h e s aid d rawi ng a re d s i l k h an dk erchief
from h i s pocket
Th ey paused fo r a moment on one o f th e n a r
row ledge s wh i c h gave them foothol d o n th e
gran ite wall N aya pee re d ove r th e edge wi th a s
l ittle d i zz i ne ss an d fea r a s a bi rd an d then loo k e d
u p at t h e ragge d c rags above thei r mantle s of
ice an d s now b eginning to gl isten in a s un s et they
coul d not se e
“
”
“
T h ey look s o s te r n sh e r ema rk ed quite
a s i f they h ave no plea s u re t h at w e wo ul d s ee th e
”
beauti f ul t h i n gs th ey gu a rd
Will i am sm iled at her fo r h er qu ic k fancy
wa s h is del igh t
A few mo re sc ramb l e s an d t h e y we r e at the
top T h e m agn ificence o f th e Specta c l e s h oo k
even A rt hu r s p r o s ai c s ou l I n the fa r we s t
m a ss e s of in ky c lo ud s wa rr e d wi th t h e d e p a r t i n g
,
,
”
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2 12
A STORY O F THE B IGHORN C O U NTRY
w h ic h r ent th em a s u n d e r with a th o u s an d
fl ash ing b ayone ts o f blood red an d go rgeous
gol d w h ile ch ai n after ch ain o f snowy mo u n
tains trembled dimly i n th e d i s tance l ike t roop s
of ve s tal vi rgin s c h anti ng th ei r eveni ng p raye r to
t h e w rath ful h eaven s T h e Pow d e r Ton gu e
an d B i gh orn river s wi th th ei r multitu di nou s
water cou rse s c oul d b e trace d no rt h wa rd u nti l
t h ey di s ap pea red i n th e b reak s of the Y el low
stone c ove ri ng the l an d wi t h a tra c e ry t h at
s p a r kl ed l ike a tangled Skei n o f s ilve r th read s
S tretche s of p l ain l ike vast i nl an d s eas s eemed
to roc k at th e ba s es o f the m igh ty mou ntai ns
fol ding deep in th ei r s ilent bosoms the t raged y
o f the ea rth s b i rth and th e legends of ancient
p eop l e s long s i nce c l aime d by t h e M ys te ry th at
give s b u t to ta k e again
su n,
,
,
,
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,
,
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,
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,
’
.
“
k e l e av e s o n trees th r a ce f m a n i s fou nd
N w green in you th n o w w i th eri ng in th gr ou n d
A n o ther r a ce th follo w ing sp ring suppl ie s
Li
e
o
o
e
,
:
”
e
.
N aya tu rne d to h e r fat h e r wi t h an e x p re ss ion
o f te rro r i n h e r d a r k eye s
“
Th e su n h as fallen to a se a of fi re an d the
mo u ntai n s a re gh o s ts fleei ng f rom th e so terribl e
”
s to rm
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2 13
H e r dram ati c im agination w as all aflam e an d
h e r ob s e rvati ons filled Wi ll iam wi th won de r
A double rainbow en c i rcled s ome di s tant h ill s
l ike a b rill i ant s a s h an d a m isty wal l of rai n
gl an c ed fa r on the B igho rn p lain
“
“
I t c ome s not here s ai d N aya
T h e G r eat
S p i ri t ties the rai n demon s wi th the rainbow
”
an d s ee there a re two enough to tie them all
“
T hen p resentl y I t i s th e ski rt o f th e b eau ti
ful rai n godde s s We c an se e not h er face an d
h ai r th ey a re h igh i n th e clou d s an d all d ri p
p i ng wi th rai n d rop s A n d the river ! S h e h a s
d ropped he r neckl a c e I t i s l i k e th e s t r in g o f
”
c rystals i n the fai ry b ook
Will iam h ad d rawn her to th e s h e l te r o f a
boul de r but the col d rap i dly i n c rea s ed an d th ey
reluctantly began thei r de s cent
“
Where a re th e boys ? Oh , h ere yo u are
”
Where di d you fin d them ?
L en h ad a h an d f ul of w h ite s hells wh ich
bo re eloquen t testimony o f th e tran sf orm ation s
an d th e fo rmer s tri f es of natu re
”
“
“
J u s t th ink s ai d th e c ow p u n c h e r, i f w e
h ad b een h ere a m ill ion yea r s a g o , w e woul d
p r ob ably h ave been queer wate r cr eatu r e s ,
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2 14
N AYA
h is luck H is p rudence an d excellen t j u dgment
h ad w on the confidence o f h is el ders and readily
assenti ng Will i am helped h im choo s e a blind i n
some dense al de r s
“
B u t only a few m inu tes yo u k now fo r th e
F ollow th is ri d ge an d
su n will soon b e down
c ross the ca non to the le f t
“
Y e s I know ; I wil l catch you at th e en d of
”
th e fi rs t m i le s ai d A rthu r eagerly wi s h in g they
woul d h asten
B ut he f ailed to ove rtake them an d by th e
time th ey reached cam p da rk clou ds we re
scu dding ac ross the sky followe d by gu s ts of
col d wi n d an d rain
“
”
I wish th at boy woul d hu rry s ai d Will i am
“
a l ittle anxiously
H e is a Sens ible l i ttle devi l
an d a s true as a comp ass in h is s ense o f di rce
tion b ut perh aps I s houl d not h ave permitted
h im to stay b eh ind My w h at a ranchm an h e
”
is goi ng to m ake !
They h ad hoisted a l i ttl e canva s ten t u n d e r
one of th e tree s an d h e an d Len we re su r
rounding i t with a trenc h fo r th e rain w as r ap
i dly inc rea s ing
“
I gu es s th e G reat S p i ri t fo rgot to tie a d o u b l e
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2 16
,
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NT RY
k not with th e rainbow s T h e rai n d emons are
”
b ro k e loo s e s ai d N aya
S he sat i n the open ing o f th e ten t d ream i ly
watc h i n g the c amp fi re a s i t leap e d an d s pu t
T h ere w as a Sti r i n th e
te re d i n th e s to rm
bunch o f h or s e s an d wi th one ac c o rd th ey c am e
trottin g c lo s e to cam p a s i f en tre ati ng h u m an
com p an ion s hi p an d symp a thy
”
“
“
I won d e r wh at s ca red em s ai d Len , j u s t
”
t h e win d p rob a b ly
I t w as qu i te d a r k now T h e r e c ame th e fain t
r epo r t o f a rifle
”
“
“
A rth u r ! s ai d Will i am
H e m u st be lo s t
”
I t is too da r k to shoot at anyth i ng
H e fi re d an an s we ri ng s hot h op ing i t wo u l d
s erve a s a gu i d e E vi d ently i t w as au d i b le to
the b oy but the e c h oe s h ad de c eived h im fo r h i s
secon d s hot w as fainte r t h an th e fi r s t
“
T h e com p as s h a s s nap pe d h i s nee dl e H e s
g o i n i n th e O pp osi te d i re c tion I l l j u s t give
”
C omet a l i tt l e e x e rc i s e an d Len too k u p h i s
b ri dl e
”
“
“
N o ! N o ! s ai d W i ll i a m I ll go R aj a h s
ri gh t h e r e an d I know th e s e mounta i n s l i k e th e
”
p a l m of m y h an d
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2 17
.
N A YA
D ivi ning he woul d f eel ea s ie r to go h im s elf ,
Len m ade no a rgument b ut h as tily th rew on the
saddl e wh ile Wi ll iam h unted h i s wh isky fl ask
”
“
H e will b e wet th rough he s aid , an d in
anothe r moment he w as gone
They s oon hea rd a s hot b u t f rom i t s nea rne s s
re c ognized i t as Will i am s signal T h ey l i s tene d
i ntently Th ere w as no an s we r
”
“
“
Poo r young s ter
s ai d Len
h e hun g
a roun d th e dee r l ick too long an d h e can t even
Whew ! Th at l l give em
se e h i s ho rse s head
”
a l ittle l ight
There was a wi l d pl ay o f ligh tn i ng about the
peaks a b ove givi ng them a gl impse o f radi ant
l ake and fo re s t ; th en all w as plunged i n b l ac k
ne ss Th is w as f ollowed by a terri fic c rash o f
thun d e r an d a f resh downpo u r o f rain w h i c h
beat dully on the h eavi ly b ranched tree s an d
pou red into t h e l a k e l ike a clo u d b u rs t L en
wrap ped a bl an k et clo s e abou t N aya and after
s timul ating the d renche d fi re too k a s eat c lo s e
by h er in the tent
”
“
A re yo u af raid ? h e a s k e d
”
“
“
Oh no s he r epl ied
T h e G reat S p i ri t
s p e a k s to u s b y th e s to rm He s ays I am
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2 18
,
u n d e r h e r d re ss and hug ged h e r k nee s i n
conten t
L en felt l ike a l i tt le boy l i s ten ing to a f ai ry
s tory H e was about to S peak b u t there wa s a
f right f ul gl a re an d a b olt o f ligh tning c rashed
i nto th e fo rest o n th e O p posi te s i de o f the lake
taking a great p ine with i t N aya p atted h e r
“
”
medicine an d neve r fli nch e d Len leape d to
hi s feet
“
I th in k I l l j u s t ta k e a loo k at th e h o rs e s
”
I won t be gone b ut a m inu te
H e came b ack p re s en tly s ayi n g in u tte r d i s
“
gu s t They ve s tampeded enti rely I t s th at
l i ttle gray Peggy mule I know S he s a pe rfect
race r even with the hobbles o n an d she s tried to
s ta rt th e bunc h fo r th e ranch a d o z en time s
I t s goi n to clea r u p th e moon s right there
an d I gue ss
on the edge o f th at clou d now
I l l ta k e a l i ttle tu rn d own th e trail I f
they eve r g et wel l s ta rted they ll head straigh t
fo r Powde r Y o u re qui te safe fo r th e r e
ai n t a s oul wi th i n tw en ty fiv e m ile s an d
”
the b ea s ts won t c ome nea r a fire
He heaped
on mo re woo d and cat c hing u p a rope ha s tened
o ff d own th e s h o r e o f th e l a k e
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220
A STO RY O F TH E B IGHORN C O U NTRY
”
“
J u s t a few mi n u te s he c alle d rea ss u ri n gl y
c a s ti ng a b a c k ward gl an c e at th e c amp
The rai n su ddenl y cea s ed fol lowing th e t h u n
d e r c lou d s th at roa red an d rumble d d own the
mountai n s i de an d a m agi c b u r s t o f moonli gh t
s tenci led th e s trai gh t bl ack p ines a ga in s t th e
s heen o f s ky an d wate r I t neve r o cc u rre d to
N aya to be a frai d Sh e wa s too tho roug hly a
c h il d o f th e wil d e rne ss Sh e th o u g h t a c u p o f
tea mi ght be wel c ome to the wayfa re r s an d
raked some fie ry ember s fo r the teapot T h en
she began toa s ting s ome b i ts o f ven i s on on t h e
fo rked wil low wan d Len h ad cu t fo r he r p aus
ing now an d t h en to g aze at t h e fai ry l a k e an d
d az z le o f wate r l i l ie s wh ich fil le d the ai r
wi th th ei r rai n d renche d f ragrance T h e fore s t
darkly mysteriou s an d aloo f l ay w ra p pe d i n
s ombe r d ream s A n igh t h aw k s uddenly flew
ove r hea d teari ng t h e s i lk en s ilen c e w i t h i t s
h a r s h uncanny c ry an d f rom the fa r d i s tance
c am e th e mou rn fu l note of a wolve ri ne
N aya fel t th at s ome one w as beh in d he r an d
tu rne d s wi ftly
I t w as W h ite B u ff a l o th e
B l ac k foot c h ief F o r one i n s tant Sh e w as l i k e a
s ta rt l e d yo u n g d oe of th e fo r e s t wit h h ea d th r own
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22 1
N AY A
b ack an d eye s f ranti c with fea r T h en the sel f
control i nheri ted f rom gene ration s of I ndian
ancestor s c ame to her as s istance an d m antled her
f ace wi th an impenetra b le s toicism
The tall b lanketed figu re o f the ch ief w as
somew h at i n the Sh adow b u t o cc a s ional gleams
o f fi re l i gh t cast i n reli e f the bol d fea tu red face
wi th i ts tyrannou s eye s
“
C ome N ay atoh ta he sai d in a d ee p v oi c e
not l acking i n ki ndne ss
The I ndi an hol ds h i s kind red i n dee p rega r d
an d th e ch ie f s eyes were f ull o f p ri de as he no
ti ced he r show o f regal indi ff e rence
Wun nes tou i s a f ool i f h e th ink s N ay atoh ta
”
goes to l ive wi th th e I ndi an she re s ponded
coldly
O h L en dea r Len w h y didn t he hu rry ?
Th e poun ding o f her heart was f righ t f ul an d
Sh e w as gl a d that A rthu r s coat s leeve s c ove re d
h e r trem b l ing h ands
Wh i te B u ff alo took a th re atening step
“
“
B e qu ick he s ai d angrily thou art a B l ac k
foot Thy pl ace i s not with thy th ieving wh ite
”
f athe r
B e f o re he c oul d p revent sh e s n at ch e d a b l a z
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2 22
oth e r d ra gge d h er noi s e l e ss l y th ro u gh the fern
b rake b ack o f th e ten t an d i nto a dense clump
o f fi rs where I ron Ho rn hel d the ho r s es
Th en th ey mounted and h eaded northwa rd
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! II
C H A PT E R
Th at
Tr ust
,
in tr a c i ng
to m e !
th e
sha de
I
,
sh a ll
fin d
ou t
th e su n
LYTTO N
.
—Lu ci l e
.
Len wa s retu rn ing wi th ou t th e ho r s es H e
h ad not foun d th em at th e head of the ca non as
he h a d hope d to do and al thou gh he fel t th a t
a h al f ho u r s r u n down th e trail wou l d en able
h im to c atch t h em h e remembe re d th at N aya
w as alone and d eci d ed to wai t u nti l d ayb rea k
be fo r e p u rs ui ng th e m fa rt h e r T h e mea d ow
gra ss often wai s t deep w as d ri pp i ng wi th r ai n
an d a di p i n th e l a k e co u l d no t h ave left h im
mo re th o rough ly soa k e d B u t th e va ri ed d i s
com fo rts of o u tdoo r exi s ten c e so d iabo l i c to th e
tende r foot are me rely i nci d ental an d u nwo rth y
o f notice to th e m an of th e l a ss o an d the range
H e hu mme d a l i ttle tu ne an d pee re d towa r d the
c amp fi re a g l eam o f yel low fl ame i n th e green
ish S ilve r o f t h e moonl igh t I t w as i ntensely
col d H e mu s t h eat a p iece o f granite fo r he r
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22 5
N AYA
be d M agp ie feath ers ! E nch ante d tai l ! H e
coul d not hel p l augh ing a l ittle
What a s trange th ing i s i nheritan c e ! O ne
constantly fo rgot N aya w as an I ndi an then su d
d e nl y l ike a stream flowi ng u nde rgro u nd the
mysticism an d fie ry soul o f he r ancesto rs b u r s t to
the s u r f ace and one saw as i n a vis ion generation
a fte r gene ration o f the ancien t race u nde r th e
s h adow o f an i nvi n c ible fate ma r c h ing s ilently
towa r d th e s etting su n w h i c h for them woul d
ri s e no more
Len s though ts d ri fte d Th at q u ee r ol d trap
p e r h e h ad run a c ross one fall over on a for k o f
the Popo agi e h ad tol d h im th at th e I ndi an s a re
th e Lo s t Tri b es o f I s rael Pe rh aps ! Poo r pe r
secu red race ; l ike the bu ff alo i t i s doomed to
extinction Len wa s no t s entimental abou t th e
I n di an b ut he knew there were two d istinct
s ides to the question an d he wa s moved to p i ty
when h e though t o f them I t w as all righ t to
glo ri f y the a rmy f o r it s won der f u l heroi s m an d
ten aci ty in wresting these l as t superb hu nting
ground s from thei r s avage tenants ; the memorie s
of i ts b itter s ac rifices an d b rill i ant victo rie s wi ll
l ive foreve r i n the h ea rt o f Ameri c a B ut wh at
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2 26
N AYA
i nto c ooped u p depen dent s Len imagined h e
could hea r the sa rca s tic laugh o f the long l ine o f
gray h ai red state s men an d general s w h o h ad
grap pled wi th the question f a c e to face Ye s
h e knew thei r a rgumen ts H e too h ad had a
b o rde r exp erience wi th the n atives wh ich re
veal s only thei r mo s t revolti ng ch aracteristi c s ;
b u t i f met wi th th e Simple hone s ty wh ich woul d
h ave b een thei rs too i n f a i r dealing an d wi th
—
such qu al ities to work wi th cou rage devotion
—
to family generos ity i ntell igence p ri de wh at
migh t not h ave been a ttai ned ? H e glowed wi th
the vision o f some day e recting a m ighty monu
men t on th e great pl ains yonde r an d cu t deep
i n th e s plen di d b ronze shoul d be the memo ries
an d traditions an d the sad h i s to ry of a fated race
R ed C lou d h ad once s ai d Wh i te m an l ie s an d
s teals My lodge s were m any but now th ey a re
few The whi te m an want s all The w h i te man
mu s t fig h t an d th e I n di an will di e where h is
”
—
fath ers d ied
N ay a s fath ers ! fo r the petty
tri b al d i s tinction s dis appea r i n thi s mutu al
tragedy of d eath an d deva s tation L ittle N aya !
B e l oved c h i l d ! S he h as m any of thei r trai ts
—
—
th e i m aginat i on t h e p ri de ye s th e I n d i an
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22 8
A STORY O F TH E B IGHO R N CO U NT RY
p ri de was h ers all right T h at d
sc o u n d rel
f rom Poi s on S p i d er ! Len c len c h ed h i s fi s t i n
s u dd en ange r
A n ugly rep u tation h a d followe d t h e Ch ri s t
m a s newcome r an d he h ad p roved h i s ri gh t to
i t O ne day a fami l i a r rem a rk h ad been met
wi th h augh ti ne s s on N aya s s i d e an d afte rwa rds
i n the co rral th e wag h ad u s ed h i s ton gue rat h e r
“
freely
N u th i n bu t a d
l ittle Sq u aw H e d
”
ta k e the p ri de o u t 0 he r s ome day
H avi ng
momen ta rily l ai d as i de h i s ca rtri d ge bel t an d i ts
fo rmi d abl e a d j un c t Len h a d s ei ze d a qu i rt an d
l a s hed the m an ac ro ss th e mou th T h e w h ole
bunk h ouse h a d b een on h i s s i de an d a f ter va ri
o u s th reat s
th e man f rom P oi s on S p i d e r h a d
ta k en h i s d ep a rtu re
T h e s h o re o f th e l a k e wa s r e ac h e d now and
r igh t th ere w as t h e camp Len s pul s e s udd en
l y ra c e d
H ow h e woul d l ove to give h is l i fe i n
—
h e r d efense i n h e r se rvice an d then i f b y an d
by
H e c o ul d h av e k nel t to th e bea u ti fu l holy
th ou gh t
T h ere c a m e a s h ou t an d h e s aw tw o h o rs e
m en is s u ing f rom t h e ve r ge of th e woo d not fa r
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229
N AYA
away N aya w as not b y th e fi re ; p ro b a b ly sh e
h ad gone in to the tent to a rrange he r th i ngs
”
“
“
He re they a re h e called
T h e c omp as s
”
h as men d e d h i s needle
Wil li am groaned as he di s mounted
R aj ah slip ped on some b ea s tly wet needles
and I m afrai d my ankle is s p rained I j umped
”
b ut he j u s t c augh t me and he l impe d towa rd
th e fi re
“
”
I m a n ice o ne I t s all my fa u l t s ai d
“
A rth u r r u e f ully
I guess the wood s a roun d
C l i f dale a re al l I m u p to B u t J imi ny i t was
l i k e ri ding i n my co ffi n I couldn t se e a th ing
an d I s u p pose I k ep t pull ing F i refly the w rong
way Got a dee r though you b et H e s h ang
i ng on a tree u p there F i refly wou ld n t let me
”
p ack h im
H e was help ing u n s a dd le
“
We mu s t s take em o r they ll follow t h e
”
othe rs an d Len began to tell h im a b ou t the
s tampe d e
”
“
Why where i s N aya ? c alled Will iam
”
“
A in t sh e in the tent ? a s ked L en h astily
“
I went down
tying R aj ah to th e neare s t tree
to th e h ea d of the c a non to se e i f I couldn t tu rn
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2 3o
N AYA
“
He caught at i t with h is th in b rown h and T h is
i s no time f o r c ry i n b u t fo r acti n you cussed
”
b a b y i diot h e sai d to h imsel f
Will iam s foot w as swell ing f rightfully and
L en b egan ta k ing o ff h i s boot
“
”
We can t do anythi ng till dayligh t h e s ai d
“
in a Steady voice
We c an t trail em i n th e
d ark and we d only loo s e time b y try i n
I ll
j us t fi x th i s ankle wi th some col d wate r and
t ruck M rs Wa rren gave me and we l l get d ried
I t s a mighty agg rav ati n
o u t an d ready to sta rt
”
plan
H e and A rthu r b egan p rep a rations The
l atte r m oved a b ou t mech anical an d dazed f o r
he th o u ght by some cu riou s twist he h a d come
“
L eathe r S tocking
to l ive i n o ne o f h is ow n
”
Tal es th at so often h aunted h is d reams S oon
a b ig pot o f ven i s on w as on the fire and L en was
m ixing anoth e r b atch o f b rea d I t wa s evi d ent
th at he wa s not th inking o f thei r com fo rt
“
M ustn t shoot when you re trail i n I n d i an s
even i f the game s th i cke r n grass S he l l be
—
h ungry on th at homewa rd run Let s see fiv e
—
hou r s Six hou r s sta rt an d they ve got rel ays
”
fixe d along th e way
H e wa s talking h al f to
h imsel f
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232
A STORY O F TH E B IGHORN CO U NTRY
Will i am s at ab s ently d rin k i ng h i s tea , one c up
after anoth e r H e w as af rai d a l igamen t i n h i s
ankle w as to rn The p ain w as f rightful Why
coul dn t th ese thu n d erbol t s h ave f allen s ep a rate
A rthu r
l y ? B u t h e woul d go i f i t ki lled h im
mu s t s tay h e re until Dougal came th e next n igh t
an d di re c t h im to come no rth wi th ho rse s H e
an d L en woul d p u r s ue the tra i l at d ayb reak
Wun ne s tou was a s ly devi l G oo d b eh avio r
an d th ri f t h ad w on th e goo d wil l o f the agenc y
peop le an d h e wi th h i s p a rty h a d been pe r
m i tte d to leave t h e re s e rvation to hun t an d trap
Th ink o f thei r comi ng all th is way ! I t wa s i n
c redi b le bu t the I ndi an travel s l ike a b i r d T h ey
had s ki rted c ivil i z ation an d s ec rete d th ei r c am p
i n s ome wil d mou ntai n fastne ss B u t w h e re ?
B igh orn Wol f R o s eb u d mou ntai ns ? T h e trai l
woul d s olve th at q u e s tion i f t h ei r wi l y meth o d s
h a d not comp lete l y covere d i t Why wh at d i d
th ey e x pect to attain by s u c h a violen t move ?
T h ey were l i k e c h i l dren i n th ei r rea s oni ng
s ometime s ; b u t w h at d eterm in ation w h at cu n
n ing ! O f cou r s e i f h e an d Len d i d not fin d h e r
s oon he woul d re p o rt i t an d a ro u s e t h e co u ntry
I n t h i s e x tre m i ty even sh e wo u l d h a v e h im do i t
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N AY A
de s p i te h e r s o rrow f o r th ei r wron gs and her s ym
p ath y wi th thei r defiance
L en w as silently p ackin g h i s l ittl e s ac k of p r o
vis ion s Will i am h ad m ade no response to h i s
pl an s and th e young cow punche r s heart wa s
b u rsting wi th dou b t an d grie f H is ow n con
s c ien c e was vindicating b u t he won d e red i f Wil
l i am b lamed h im Will iam caught s ight o f h i s
face grown s uddenly d rawn an d ol d an d divi n
i ng h i s though ts ro s e and Stretched o u t h i s
h and
“
Don t th ink Len my b oy th at I blame you
fo r thi s
I h ave le f t he r alone in camp time
and time again fo r the s ame pu rpo s e Y o u r
”
pl an s a re excellent
B e f o re h e real i zed i t he w as reel i ng wi th
agony an d Len wa s h al f c ar rying h im to h i s bed
i n the tent
”
“
I t l l be li gh t i n a c oup le o f h ou r s s ai d Len
“
p resently an d i f you ll j ust tru s t me si r I think
I ought to go alone You can t travel wi th you r
foot in su c h a fi x O f cou r s e it s a s y ou say bu t
i f I coul d j u s t h ave R aj ah ! I ve d one lots of
”
trail i n you know
H is voice s eemed to come
f ro m a g reat d i s tan c e
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2 34
b ullets N ew s p ape r noto riety ! H eav e n help
the ch i l d l J u s t b e a b i t wa ry We l l give them
a l i ttl e of th ei r own medi c ine O n c e s afe at the
ran c h we ll j u s t keep th i s th ing hu s hed u p and
I ll get her out of the co untry I tru s t you my
b o y B e c a reful of yo u rs el f Th e B l a c k fe et a re
”
devil s when thei r b l o od i s u p
Le n s oon f ound thei r trail i n the f e rn b rake
and m o unted on R aj ah he too headed no r th
wa rd
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C HAPT E R ! I I I
H ope
is b righ t st w h
e
wn s fro m f a rs
S COTT—Th e L ady of th e
en
it
da
e
.
La ke
.
M eanwh ile the I n di an s were p i c ki n g thei r
way th rough fo re s t an d c a non wi th the une rr in g
i n s tinct of all ch il d ren o f the wi l d s Thei r s tout
l i ttle ponie s never f al tered b u t s c r am b led an d
s li d down the dark s l ipp e ry h ill s i de s a s i f they
realized the impo rtan t p a rt they p l ayed i n the
con s p i racy an d were determined that i t s houl d
not fal l th rough f o r l a c k o f c ou rage an d en du r
ance on thei r s i de
N aya s s u b mi ss ion wa s bu t ski n de e p an d
when s he s aw the r e were only two ho r s e s s he
m ade a rap i d p l an to e sc ap e Wh ite B u ff alo ha d
pl aced he r ba c k o f h i s s addle reali z ing th at the
pony woul d travel b ette r i f the greate r weigh t
were f o rward an d a s they rou n de d the we s te r n
portion o f the l ake ju s t un de r the c l i ff s wh ich
a f ew moment s l ate r c augh t Wi lli am s c ry s he
s aw he r o p po r tun i ty an d s eiz e d it The r e w as a
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237
N AY A
b l a c k s trip of under b ru s h an d j u s t b eyon d th e
ru s he s and l ily p ad s th at b o rd ere d the l ake I t
wa s h a rdly a qua rte r of a mile ac ro ss to the c amp
fi re and al though th e water w as f reezing sh e
wa s determined to try i t I ron H o r n w as a l ittle
i n advan c e With out a s ound sh e s l i pped o ve r
the p o ny s tai l to the gr o un d an d w as wriggling
i nto the s hel tering b ru s h ; b ut the pony j ump ed
and wi th o ut s aying a wo rd Whi te B u ff alo li fted
he r u p again th i s time i n f r o nt o f him and they
p roceeded a s s i lently a s b efo r e
H ou r a fter hou r pa ss ed an d s he nev er s pok e
O nce a gleam o f n atu ral kindne ss the kindne ss
that ch a ra c terized h i s ra c e b ef o re the advent o f
the whi te m an s eemed to touch the I ndian s re
vengeful hea rt an d a s ki ng i f s he were hungry
h e o ffe red he r a p iece o f b r ead She s t ruck i t
f rom hi s h and H e gave a s hort angry l augh
b u t i n the depth s of h i s I n di an n atu re there w as
admi ration fo r he r s p i ri t and he r c unning H e
h im s el f coul d not h ave pl anne d a b ette r e sc ape
I f th e pony h ad not j umped s he woul d h ave
b een i n the l ake b efo re he noticed s h e w as gone
H er mothe r w as a rema rkabl e s wimme r ; sh e o ut
s tri pp ed b oth her b rothe r s in s wi f tne ss i f not i n
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23 8
A ST ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
en du ran c e an d p r ob a b ly th i s ch il d w as l ike h er
I f they c oul d only awaken the race loyalty th at
i s an I n di an s b i r th right then they coul d s n ap
thei r finger s at th e fork tongued wh ite m an he r
fathe r ; b u t s h e wa s a wil d cat an d i t woul d take
time to tam e he r Whe n s h e w as a p apoo s e sh e
loved th e ol d grandmothe r They woul d se e
O cc a s ion ally he an d I r on H o rn e xc h anged a
b rie f remark N aya ga thered th at f re s h hor s e s
were not fa r She looke d up at the b l a c k tree
top s wavi ng again s t th e dark s i lve r b lue s ky an d
i t s eemed t o he r th at the s ta rs we re hu ddled to
gethe r i n an x iou s con s ul tation an d th at th e p ale
s haft s o f moonligh t wan dering like w rai th s i n
the f o r e s t wer e co ns tantly b eckoni ng and c all
”
“
i ng E s cape ! E sc ap e ! B u t th e a rm th a t hel d
he r wa s l ike th e i r o n c l amp o f a p ri s on F o r
one s u rging in s tan t s he w as temp ted to l ean an d
b i te i t ; th en l ike a m aj e s ti c p re s e nc e the dig
n i ty i nherited f r o m tw o mi ghty race s a sse r te d i t
s el f an d the wil d impul s e fled b e f o re it s c alm
“
i ng gaze
I mu st do nothin g u nwo rthy of
”
f athe r s he though t H e an d L en woul d hunt
f o r he r of cou r se b u t when dayl igh t came the
I n di an s woul d b egin cove rin g the t r ail Wh at
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2 39
N AYA
i f they n ev e r f ound he r at all ? Sh e s truggle d
wi th a s o b At lea s t sh e w o ul d n o t give h im th e
s ati s fa c ti o n o f s eeing he r c ry
They halted a b rup tly and i n th e c l e a r l igh t
N aya saw a young I ndi an s tanding on a s tone i n
a wi de c reek an d h o lding th ree ho r s e s tha t
champed re s tle ss ly i n the col d wat e r C oul d i t
b e ? H e S poke now an d s he di s tinctly r e co g
n i z e d th e s oft gay voice o f R u s hing Wi nd t he
C row gui de I t wa s he w h o h ad put the B l a c k
f eet on thei r trail Thi s i s what he had meant
that mo rning o n B i g Pi ney when he s ai d they
woul d meet s oon again She remem b e red now
h i s s ly l augh N aya s ange r s hook her wi th s u d
den fu ry b u t s he s tood b y s ilent an d m o t i onl ess
a s they rapi dly ch anged the s addle s
“
I hop e the l i ttle daughte r of E agle Rib s b e
”
not angry he s ai d tea s ingly
Sh e di d not an s we r Wh i te B u ff alo s ai d a
f ew s h a r p wo rd s to him a n d he c ea s ed mole st
i ng he r
H er heart f el l when s h e heard thei r pl an s I t
s eem s th at R u s hing Wind h ad led the ho rs e s i n
the s tream f o r a mi le o r mo re an d that they we re
to retu rn i n th e s am e w ay whil e he aft er a br ie f
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240
,
N A YA
d e ntl y
i t had been s to rming fo r th e r ed b l uff s
an d s tunted pine s wer e del i c ately s p r inkled wi th
new s now Wh ite B uff alo saw s he w as awake
”
“
Th e whi t e woman ha s a s trange cu s tom he
b egan with th at faint s train of kindne ss i n hi s
“
guttu ral voi c e
At the tim e o f m a rri age sh e
c over s her s el f wi th a vei l a s o f s now L ook l it
tl e daughte r o f th e Z i a rz apas i t i s a s ign f or
thee The G reat S p i ri t h as c overed the ea rth
wi th a b ri dal veil We woul d thou would s t
ma rry an d l ive f oreve r i n the W i gwam o f thy
peopl e M a q u é a po s i s a b rave and no b le w ar
rio r The l i f e o f the napi q u a n i s not fo r thee I
know th ee well Thy mothe r the pu r e an d
l o vely C rys tal S to n e wa s my s i s te r Sh e w as a
chil d of the l aughi ng s tream s an d of the fi e ry
s un s ets Thou a re l ik e he r l ittl e daugh te r of
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Cri ste coom
”
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’
There wa s a voi ce i n N aya s ea r like th e f ai n t
wi l d echo o f anothe r e x i s ten c e Th e s ound c ame
—
—
n ea rer mounted mounted unti l s he hel d he r
b r e ath an d b ent her head wh il e the wind s o f i n
heri tance swep t a b out h er O h the s oun d o f
r u s hing water s the rain beate n leave s b lowing
Bl ck f t
Th Wo l f s Wo r d
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2
a
e
ee
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A S TORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
in he r f a c e the l on g wil d s w e ep of th e s t o rm
down th e mountai n s i de an d e verywhere f r ee
—
—
dom fr eed o m f reed o m
Sh e wai ted a long tim e bef o re a n s w e ri ng Al l
a n ge r be twee n them s eemed t o h ave d e p a r ted
“
f o r fi n ally s h e s a i d a s ki n dly a s he Th o u a rt
righ t I am o f thy r a ce an d I lov e the l i f e o f
th e In d i a n ; b u t I c annot leave my f a th er H e
i s s ad s in ce i n th e M oon of F l o we r s th e p u r e
an d lovely C ry st al S tone w as tak e n fro m h i m
”
I s hall r e tu r n t o h i m
Sh e w as s ittin g u p n o w a n d gazi ng so m be rly
into th e da r k vi s age of he r c ap to r A deep e r
gloom s ettled ove r th e f a ce o f th e c h i e f b u t
th e e xp re ss io n of fier c e tyranny i n th e r e s tle ss
bla c k eye s h a d c h anged to on e o f b r oo di n g pa
ti e nce a n d dete r min ation H e m ade no res p onse ;
an d i t w as th e i r on ly con ve rs ati on du ri ng th e
days o f fligh t
S oon a f te r n ight f all th e y c am e i n s i gh t of th e
I n di a n en c ampm ent N aya co ul d see th e o u t
li ne o f a h al f dozen wi gwam s an d m a n y dark
figu r es p a ss ed an d re p a s se d in th e ci rc l e o f fi re
l ight H e r hea rt gav e a l eap h al f o f d e l i ght
“
”
h al f of fe a r
I am tw o p eo pl e s h e crie d to
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243
N AY A
h e rs el f ; th e n as i f f o re s eei n g the l i f e o f un re st
an d s truggle th at lay b efo re he r s he b egan p ray
i ng p a ss ionately impe riou s ly
Cri ste coom
—
—
Cri ste co om make me j u s t one j u s t o ne like
—
f athe r j u s t one !
H e r fath e r s gray eye s
s eemed to gaze at he r th r o ugh the du s k The re
were tear s i n them and th ere i n the b eauti f ul
room b y the s i ngin g wate r f all wa s the little white
b ed all s mooth and un tou c hed Perh ap s Pig
eon h ad s caled the f en c e an d w as out the re ru b
b i ng he r no s e again s t the p ane Perh ap s th ey
were al l at the ran c h b y thi s time ; pe rhap s they
woul d no t hunt f o r he r after all Sh e ben t ove r
the s addle ho rn wi th a l i ttle moan o f h o me s i c k
ne ss Suddenly th e ponie s s top ped an d a trem
b li ng ol d voi c e pie rced the tumult a round he r
“
My b a b y C ry s tal S tone She is dead M a n y
moon s i s s h e dead My hea r t wa s b a r ren I t
wa s a s th e Moon o f S now s b ut n ow i t i s a s th e
M oo n o f L eave s L ittle S ta rs on th e R ive r ,
”
co me to thy gra n dm o the r
I t wa s ol d Swe e t G ra ss th e I ndi an gra n d
m oth e r The c u riou s th rong reve r ently made
w ay fo r he r an d wh e n N aya s s ea rc hi n g eye s
c augh t si ght o f the o ld ci n n amon b ark f a c e an d
,
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244
-
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N A YA
qu ee n s a n d i n thei r p athway we r e s t r ew n the
f ai re s t flow e r s o f h o mage and co urte s y Think
of h i s p re s uming to o r der he r a b out a s i f sh e
—
w er e ye s a s quaw !
A b a b y s c ry c am e f r o m an o the r p a r t of th e
l o dge and he r f a c e melted The wreath s of
s m o ke idly c u rl ing towa rd the apertu re a b ove
so sc re e ned th e rea r o f th e Wigwam that sh e
c ould not se e j u s t wh e n ce the s oun d c ame S he
ra n to the o th e r s i de o f th e fi re and there i n h i s
p r i s on o f b uck s ki n an d b ead s wa s a mi te o f a
b r ow n b a b y em itting a sa ssa sk i v i fi t to th rill
the s calp lo c k s o f a hund red wa r rio rs
s aid
Pa h ka ps ’ Pa h lea ps! E ss u m m i ssa l
N aya l augh ing an d p atting th e tiny t ea r w e t
c heek wi th one h and whil e i n the other sh e
whi r led h e r b ead ne c kla c e A young s qu aw
r u s hed o ut of th e s hadow s an d se ized the b a b y
b y th e no s e H e s trangled an d s truggled fo r an
i n s tant i n a n endeavo r to b ewail thi s fr e s h on
sl au gh t of mi s e ry then rel a x ed like a su bm i s
s iv e r ag doll When th e mothe r let go the l ittle
b ump meant f o r hi s no s e h e gav e a ga s p of a s
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2
Wa r w h oop
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ook t h re
Ba d ! Bad ! L
e
”
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2 46
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
to ni sh me nt
a n d th en l a u ghed o ut ri gh t a s i f h e
f el t th e j o k e w as o n h im Wh i te B uff al o s tood
by wa tc hi ng amu s eme nt a n d f ath er ly p r i d e
l ight i ng hi s gloomy eyes
“
M y wi f e an d my son h er edi t a ry c h i e f o f
”
th e tri b e h e s ai d to N aya p ro udly I t w as e v i
de nt th a t h e ad o re d h i s f amily
s a i d th e co m e ly y o u ng
H ow n e
s quaw plea s a n tly a n d sh e tu rne d away t o h e l p
Sw e et G ra ss wi th th e su p p er
Whe n i t wa s re ady N aya s eat e d h ers el f c l os e
t o th e o l d g r a n dm o the r h e r u nh ap py e ye s n eve r
leavin g the fi r e e xc ep t to s m i le f ai n tly on s ome
c ro o ning c a re ss H ad i t n o t bee n for an a c hing
so methi n g how s h e co ul d have th r o w n he r s el f
in to th i s s w e e t s imple f amily l i fe o f th e I n di an
Wh ite B u ffal o h a d unl a c ed th e d e e r s ki n th on g s
th at i mp risone d h is b ri ght eyed o ff s p r in g and
l augh in g at th e i n dign a nt p r ot e s tati ons of the
mothe r wa s f eeding h i m w i th b i t s of m e at
O verhead the s ta r s c lu s te r ed a bo ut the ap er tu r e
a s i f to c rown thi s humble h o m e of n atu r e s o wn
c h i ld ren Swe e t G ra ss w as g r eatly di s tu r b ed
b e cau s e the l ittle s t r a n ger w o ul d e a t noth in g
How t th o ?
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17
ar
u
”
247
N A YA
a n d l ike gran dmother s the worl d ov er s udden
l y b e th o ugh t her s el f of s ometh ing whi c h m ight
temp t the l agging appeti te She di s app ea red
fo r a mom en t an d r etu rned wi th a b a s ke t o f f ra
gran t wi ld s t r aw b e rrie s They l ay on a b ed o f
deli c ate g ree n leave s so a rranged th at the b as
k et s e dge w as wreath ed wi th b l os s om s ! ui c k
tear s s p rang to N ay a s eye s
”
“
B eauti f ul mothe r w o ul d h av e m ade it s o
sh e s ai d a n d ki ss ed ol d Sweet G ra ss w i ther e d
c h eek B ut s he ate only a few
1
a s k e d t he c hie f
Ch o h e tta Iz e te sis ti ca ?
ki ndly
2
sh e s ai d s h or tly h er e y e s on th e fi re
S ah
“
3
qu avered Sweet G ra ss
My
A h! A h!
b a b y i s ti red To mo r row will s he eat o f the
e
m
e ks ta k e e
an
d
th
e
S
he
will
h
e
l
p
k
o
l
z
a
o
n
h
p
4
d ry the m u m m e a We will t alk o f the beauti f ul
“
C ry s tal S tone an d b e h ap py Po h lz s a pa te
,
,
.
.
,
’
.
’
.
,
’
.
.
.
”
“
.
”
“
.
,
,
”
“
.
-
.
.
.
.
N ay atoh ta
,
”
.
The grandmothe r woul d h av e l e d he r t o h er
A
1
2
3
rt th o u tire d
C‘
H
Ye s ! Ye s !
s
Fi h
5
.
om
C
e
h
ere
”
.
N AY A
s he c ould perh ap s s li p away in the night b ut
the chi e f wa s to o wa ry t o give he r s uch a ch ance
Sweet G r a ss c alled her and helped her u nd re ss
The loving ol d finge r s fum b led awkwa rdly wi th
the s trange f a s teni ngs b ut N aya wa s p atient
knowi ng how much pl e a s u re i t gave the ado ring
s oul She s h rank a l i ttle f r o m the b l anket an d
”
s kin s th at c ove red he r
I an I ndi an 1 sh e
“
though t sc o rn fully I who h ave mo re fea r o f the
di rt th an o f the s o fie r ce l ion E ven th e so clea n
”
—
E ngli s h f athe r l augh s to a t me s ometime s
She w as al ready d ri fti ng on a c u rrent of heavy
ti red s leep when the s oun d of pl a i n ti v e mu s i c
made he r s ti r and s tart u p
“
Wh at i s i t G ra n dmothe r Sweet G ra ss ? s he
whi s pered to th e ol d s qu aw w h o wa s lyi ng clo s e
b e s i de h e r
Th ere i t w as again ! F ain t mou rn f ul s train s
th a t wan de r ed on the n igh t b r eez e l ike the
thought s of the dying
O n ly the mu s i c of the willow s tem li ttle
”
s trawbe rry blo ss om s ai d Sweet G ra ss s ooth
“
Th e B oy o f th e Willow M u s i c s truck
i ngl y
hi s f a the r a n d mu st f a s t o n th e h ill f o r
”
th ree days S leep l ittle flowe r of Cri ste coom
,
.
.
,
,
.
“
.
,
.
.
,
.
”
,
,
.
.
“
,
,
‘
.
.
.
,
2 50
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
I n th e m o rni ng N aya wa s so p al e an d weak
th at the gran dm o the r w as f r i ght en ed
”
“
“
I t i s nothi ng s ai d the ch ie f
She i s ti red
a n d mou rn s f o r he r wh i te f ath e r We mu s t
h ave p ati en c e I wi ll b ring th e b rav e a n d no b l e
wa r r io r M a q u e a p os w h o woul d w e d he r
Sh e w i l l h ave c hil dren an d be one o f u s a n d
f o rget th e for k t on gu e d wh i t e man an d hi s
”
ways
“
Not ye t ! N o t yet ! p leaded gentl e Swe e t
G r a ss he r o l d f a ce wo r kin g wi th em o ti on
”
“
“
Ye s
s ai d Wh i te B uff alo s te rnly we a re
dying I mu s t u phol d th e l i f e a n d s t r ength o f
”
my n ati o n I t i s enough
The o l d s qu aw tu rned humbly to h e r t a s k s
but the tea r s gath e red i n th e c re a ses o f h e r
wri nkled f a c e
N aya sat l i s tl ess on th e bank o f the s tream I t
w as no u s e trying to m ake he r e sc ape ; sh e w as
to o wel l wat c h e d fo r th at an d s houl d s he s l i p
away wh er e w as s he an d whi c h way s h o u l d sh e
go ? N o there wa s nothing to do b ut to wai t
P re sen tly he r rever i e wa s i nte r ru p ted b y Sweet
G r a ss w h o b o re a b r imm i n g gou r d in he r h a n d s
.
.
,
.
.
-
-
-
.
,
-
.
”
.
,
,
,
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.
.
,
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.
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
2 5:
N AYA
”
“
G randmoth e r Sweet G ra ss
s aid N aya
”
agha s t yet hal f l aughing not all of th at !
A h! A h ! My li ttle mou rning d o v e mu s t
d rink then sh e will be s trong lik e the yo ung
doe
I t w as a f ea rf ul b eve r age c on c octed o f bi tte r
her bs an d the b a rk o f the wil d che rry bu t the
c hil d gulped he roi c ally i n s pi te o f s ma rting eye s
and puckeri ng mouth Then fo r an i n s tant h er
n atu ral fu n welled within he r
”
“
Thou h a s t killed me s he l aughed m aking
“
a gr o te s que f a c e
I love G randmother Sweet
G r a ss to o mu c h to leave her b ehind We will
”
g o to the H appy H unting G round s togethe r
She s ei zed the a s toni s hed ol d s qu aw with one
h an d an d wi th the oth er tried t o admini s te r
the dreg s o f he r own medi c i ne The mo rni n g
ri pp led wi th the c hil d s l aughte r an d the quiet
f ace s o f a fe w s cattered I ndi an s rel a x ed i n i n
volunta ry s mile s N otwi th s tan ding he r s eventy
odd yea r s Sweet G ra ss b roke away an d m ade
f o r the Wi gwam with the gayety i f not the grace
of a m ai d en o f s eve n teen H e r mil d ol d f a c e
be amed wi th f un an d now a n d then l ittle c ackle s
o f del ight b roke f rom he r a s s h e ran Su r ely i t
,
“
,
,
“
,
”
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,
,
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,
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’
,
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,
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,
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,
.
2 52
N A YA
yo u a r e my pe o pl e ; b ut I c anno t live am on g
”
you
Wh i te B u ffalo gave a s i gn ifi c a nt g ru nt H e
woul d se e he though t to him s el f
A s i f divi ning hi s thoughts sh e con t in u e d
s imp ly Cri ste coom gave me l i fe I f I am fo r c e d
—
to to l ive he re I s hall retu rn i t to h im I h ave
s ai d all
And s he walked p roudly i n to the wig
wam
”
“
P atien c e ! s ai d Whi te B u ffal o d oggedly
“
”
Patien c e ! echoed the melan c holy b rave h i s
eye s followi ng her wi s t f ully
m a h to
S a lt ! S a il ! wailed Sw e e t G r a s s,
.
.
,
.
,
“
.
,
.
,
”
.
.
.
,
.
”
“
ma hx i m
“
'
”
.
Towa rd evening N aya a n d he r g r andmo ther
ga the red s traw b erri e s on the hill s s u rrounding
the vi ll age The child s fa c e wa s white an d s ad
“
b ut i t b rightened a s Sweet G ra ss s ai d I t ru s t
thee li ttle fawn Thou wi lt not tell thy uncle
2
The ra h h o ma pe e i n yonde r w o od m ake s f a s t
an d I b ring h im f ood My f ooli s h ol d hea rt will
not b ea r th at the young g o hu n g ry I ron H or n
’
.
,
,
.
,
.
.
.
1
2
She
Boy
.
is yo ung
”
.
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
wat c hed on th e h ill , b ut h e h a s g o ne for h is
”
on olz a h m e ta
S
tay
n
ot
fo
r
h
e
r
etu
rn
s
p
N aya wa s fil le d wi th s ud d e n ex c i teme n t an d
h o p e and taking the ba s ket s li pp ed s wi f tly i nto
th e w o od The re b e ll iou s yo ung B l a c k fo o t di d
not s e e he r at fi r s t H e sat on a f al len log h i s
m agi c p i pe t o hi s l i p s when c e c am e the p l a in
ti v e s t r ain s th at h ad so tou c hed he r the n igh t be
f o r e H i s dre ss c on s i s ted only of b reech c lout
an d mo cc a s in s a n d h i s l i th e youn g s h o ul de rs
s hone l ik e b ronz e i n the s l anting ray s of the d e
p artin g su n H e m ade a c h a rmi ng p i c tu r e s i t
ting among the p at c he s o f b rill i an t green li c he n
whi c h mottled the gray an d s p ik e l ike b r an c he s
o f the f allen tre e
“
B rother here i s meat of th e o ua car e e Sweet
G ra ss s end s i t I am N aya thy unh ap py si s
te r My f athe r i t wa s wh o ma rri e d C ry s tal
S to ne an d they h ave s to l e n m e f rom h i m I f
th o u s ee s t a white ma n give him th is an d s ay
I will b e h ere aga i n to m o r r o w n igh t a n d th at
”
—
we will run r u n
She wa s b reathle ss and h al f c ry i n g wi th ex
Th e I n d i a n bo y h ad neve r s e en he r
ci te me nt
1
.
.
,
,
,
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.
,
,
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,
,
.
-
.
.
,
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,
.
.
,
,
-
.
.
1
Horse
.
2 55
be fo re and a s the de c r ee had b een s olitude a n d
s ta rvation fo r th ree day s he w as filled w i th
b l anke s t a s toni s hment Without waiting for
h im to s peak N aya th ru s t the food and h and
ker c hie f i nto h i s h a n d s an d dep arted as s wi f tly
as sh e h ad come
I t wa s a b a re h O pe b u t s he to o k heart The
fo ll owing day s he s eemed so happy and so mu c h
a t h o me th at the I ndi an s were encou raged and
th e wi s t f ul eye s of The Wol f s W or d wat c hing
f ro m a f a r lo s t thei r hop ele ss ne ss Patience ! I t
i s th e wat c hwo rd o f the I ndi an
H ad they b ut
known i t w as only a ru s e to rel ax thei r su spi
c io ns c u s tody C on s equently at s un down s he
h ad no trou b le in gai ning the wood ; b ut s he s pent
th e n ight i n re s tle ss t oss ing
S a h ! S a h ! l ittle
s i s ter the b oy h ad s ai d
The ne x t morning sh e heard Whi te B uff al o
giving hi s o rder s to the vill age
“
1
To night when the c og u e a h tos e ri s e s we
s tart f o r O mei x e m z
The m u m m e a a re gone
th e po no ka h an d lz e ksta k e e a re now f ew B e
”
ready !
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
’
,
.
,
.
,
.
,
“
.
”
.
,
.
-
,
-
2
-
.
,
.
1
2
M oo
A
n
.
lak e ne a r
th e B
riti
h b o r der
s
2 56
.
N AY A
Th e ol d fa s hioned gran dm o the r i n s i s t e d on
givi ng he r a s team b a th
Thou a rt whi te r th an the b l osso m of th e c he r
r
i
n
the
M
o
o
n
o
f
F
lowe
r
s
s
ai
d
t
e
n
derly
h
e
s
y
I woul d see thy s weet c h ee k s lik e th e su mm er
dawn
She m ade a ti n y c i r c ul a r hu t of ben d e d w i l
low s c ov e red wi th heavy b l anket s s o th at eve ry
b reath o f ai r woul d b e e xc luded N aya s at
withi n p o u ring wate r on th e heated s tone s u ntil
sh e w as almo s t p arb o iled
b ut s omeway the
phy s i c al di s tre ss w as a wel c ome div ers ion
When sh e thought th e c u re w as c omplete the
s tu rdy o l d s quaw w r ap ped a b l anket a roun d the
s uff o c ated chil d an d c a rryi ng her b r i s kly t o the
c r eek th rew he r i nto an i c e c ol d pool N aya
l augh ed i t s eemed so ri di c ul o u s bu t wh en i t
wa s ove r an d sh e h ad f oun d f r es h thi n gs i n h er
s ack s he f elt s u rp ri s ingly s trong and well Then
Sweet G ra ss b r o ugh t a b owl o f g r u e l mad e fro m
th e wil d rice
”
“
Th o u mu s t eat f o r th e j ou rn e y is l o ng
s ighed
A h ! A h ! The jou rney i s lo n g
N aya Then to her gran dm o the r s deligh t sh e
a s ked fo r trout
-
.
“
”
,
.
“
”
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,
,
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,
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,
,
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,
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,
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,
”
“
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’
,
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.
2 58
A
S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
”
s he s ai d s m il i n g
Wh ile s he sat s haki ng h er wet h ai r i n the
wi n d sh e w at c hed the s un a s i t wheeled towa rd
the we s t O cc a s ionally s h e p r ayed wil dly i n
co he r e ntly th at i t woul d not leave he r to an
o th er n igh t o f l o nel i n ess Sh e co ul d h e a r ol d
Sweet G ra ss s inging a s s he wo rked i n th e wi ll o w s
c lo s e by I t wa s a s ong o f l ament fo r th e y o unge r
son l on g s in c e dead
“
k u m i nn u y a ,
No
1
.
,
,
,
.
.
.
.
,
fa rewe ll
u st go e b eyon d th Gre t Ri v er ;
s irit is th o t h r si d of th sa d b tt s ;
I w i l l t th e for h d r d wi ters
Th o u wi l t sc al p th
e my i th gr n p r a irie
Beyon d t h e Gr a t Ri v
W h n th e wa rri o rs o f th Bla ck f e t mee t ;
Wh en t h e y s mok e th m dici p i p
A n d da ce th w a r d a ce
k Wh r is Is t h u ma k
T h ey w i ll
Wh ere i th e b r v e t o f th M a i m k app i
H e fell in th w a r pa th M a i r am b M i m b
O my son !
Th o h a
Th y p
no
,
n
e
on
se e
e
e
e
e
a
a
un
e en
n
e
e
e
e
.
ee
e
ne
e
e
e
n
e
‘
as
n
e
u
er
e
n
n
e
e e
,
s
a
e
-
s
e
a,
-
-
?
e
-
-
.
o,
N ay a s
a
’
-
ra
-
o
”
.
f a ce wa s sad a s s he ro se
“
”
“
G r a n dm o th er sh e s ai d
th e re a re m or e
s t r aw b e rries by th e l i t tl e w oo d an d th e n ight
”
c om es f a s t
.
,
,
,
.
1
“
Th
r e lo g ones
e
n
”
.
N A YA
”
“
“
N e e ! a h lz re ,
m u m m e a i n the
s a i d sh e c he er i ly
Put th e
b a s ket Th e ra h k o mape e h as
an o the r day to f a s t H e fo ll o w s o n fo ot whe n
th e c og u e a b tose r i s e s We a re s afe Thy un c le
l acks wi s d o m s ometime s H e tol d R ed L eaf to
wat c h on the hil l while th e wa r rio r s h unt the
o u a cas e e
b ut he t o o h a s go ne H e i s a f ool i s h
2
m a h tre e
When th e time c ome s l i ttle S ta rs
”
w e wi ll n ot m a rry thee to s u c h a s h e
N aya b r aided he r h ai r a s they c lim b ed the
hill an d ol d Swe e t G ra ss c roo ned an o the r v ers e
o f h er s on g
M y scalps w ill be t ak e fo r th y de ath ;
Th Cr o ws w i ll lo s m y h o rses ;
Th eir w om e wi ll wee p f o r t h ir b r v s ;
T h e y w i ll c rse th S p irit o f Is th —
m k
n ! I wi ll c om e t o t h
O my
An d mak e mocca si s f o r th w a r p t h
A s I di d w h en t h o d i d st stri k th lo dge
O f th H m g
d wit h th to mah awk
F r w ll my
n ! I will see t h ee
B yo d th b ro a d ri v r
M ai m b Mai m bo l
Th e y w e re c ro ss ing a g r a ss y di p c l ose to the
wo o d when N aya tu rne d an d put h er h an d s on
th e o l d s qu aw s s h o ul d ers
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
an
n
e
an
e
n
e
u
e
-
so
e
u
o
e
a e
-
e
u ar
e
e
ra
-
o,
e
-
ra
-
’
.
1
3
V
A
e y well
b r ave
r
.
”
.
a-
a
e
so
,
n
e
u
e
ee
n
e
a
.
e
.
a
.
N A YA
thee I will keep them f rom th e knowledge of
thy a bs ence a s long a s po ss i b le F a rewell my
child M ays t thou rea c h th e Wigwam o f th e
”
B ea r s C hild i n s a f ety
N aya sobb ed her g r ati tude an d r ained tea r s
and ki ss e s on the s we et ol d f ace I n an o the r mo
ment s he wa s i n the wood
The B oy o f the Willow M u s i c sat wait i ng fo r
he r H i s mel ancholy ai r h ad vani s hed an d
e xc i tement trem b led i n e ve ry s inew
N aya
s natched a red s ilk h a n dke rc hie f fr om hi s h an d
“
L en ! sh e c ried
”
A h ! A h ! N a pi q u a n H e wai ts f o r thee
H an d in h a n d they s ped th r ough th e s ilen t
wo o d
Sweet G ra ss wa s weeping f o r he r c h il dren
She li ngered i n th e s traw b e rry p at c h until th e
s h adow s deepened i n the fol d s o f th e hill s a n d
were b lo tting the p al e s aff ro n f r o m th e s kie s
“
I s thu m a k a
N ay atoh ta
E e h n i s kim
they a re gone an d I am alone
Softly l amenti ng
s he crep t u p the hill that 3 10 ped towa rd the vi l
l age There s he h i d among s om e p i ne s an d
waited Wh ite B uffalo rode i n from the hun t
and Sweet G ra ss rai s ed her s h r ill o l d v o i c e
,
.
,
.
’
.
.
.
.
.
”
.
“
.
.
.
.
.
-
-
-
-
-
,
”
,
.
.
,
.
‘
.
2 62
A
S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
“
We a re h ere N ay atoh ta w o ul d wa tc h th e
”
dying s un set
H e look e d u p an d no dde d i n r ep ly
Th e ol d s quaw ro c ked b a c k a n d fo rth on h e r
s eat o f d ry p i ne n e e dl es
“
M y b a b y ! I n the f all in g l e a f ti m e w i l l I
co m e t o thee N o t lo n g er M othe r o f G o d N ot
”
l onge r O Cri ste coom
S o th e p i te ou s l am en
tati ons co ntinu e d th e exp ressions of wi l d s u p er
sti ti o n intermingled wi th s t r ang e l i ttl e C ath o l i c
ph r a se s p rob a b ly gathe re d yea r s b efo re f r o m
”
“
s om e wa n deri n g B l a c k G o wn
P r e s entl y Wh ite B u ff a l o c am e o u t o f th e w i g
wam
“
”
“
C o me ! he c all e d
th e c og u e a h tose r i s e s
”
s o o n The re i s mu c h t o do
Swe et G r a ss b r av e ly con t ro l l e d h e r w ee p in g
”
“
N ay atoh ta w o ul d co u n t th e s ta rs
“
”
The re i s n o t im e R e tu rn
B u t Sw e e t G ra ss o nly mo a ne d sof t l y to h e r
“
s el f
H e w as eve r th e l e a st l ovi n g o f my b a
b ie s H e w i l l kil l m e I t is w e l l L i t tl e b a b y
C ry s tal S to n e t h o u a r t beyon d the G reat R ive r ;
th o u a rt i n th e a rm s of th e V i r g in Cri ste coom !
.
.
.
,
.
,
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,
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,
.
263
18
Cri ste coom !
Pu t h er l it tle head once m ore up on
”
my b r e a s t
“
Why d os t th o u n ot c om e ? I s ay c ome many
”
tim es
I t grow s l ate s a i d Whi te B uff alo s
voi c e a f ew p a c e s down the hill
The ol d I ndi an m o the r s tende r h e a r t quail e d
b enea th i ts ha rs hne ss
“
”
N ay atoh ta gathe rs flowe rs c lo se b y s he be
gan b ut he r voi c e b r o ke
”
“
I t i s da rk h e s ai d
O ne c a n n o t se e th e
”
flowe rs Whe re i s sh e ? ! u i c k !
“
”
G one l s ai d ol d Sweet G ra ss w e ep ing
b itte rly
G one ! E sc ap e d ! Th o u did s t l e t he r ? He
“
s eized her b y th e a rm a n d s ho o k her
D i d th e
”
wh ite man c ome ?
“
I know not The L ak e of th e Dyi n g F a c e
s he i s of ou r r a c e
sh e s ai d i t
sh e mea n t i t
S trike me K il l me I woul d die f o r I am
”
alone an d sh e l ay w e ep ing at th e feet of h e r
son an d c hie f
S uddenly the sa ssa s h i v i r ang th rough the vil
lage
“
! ui c k ! Th e po n oha h m e ta ! Th ere will b e
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264
C HAPT E R ! I V
m uch h e d res
And t o t h a t d a u nt l ess t e mp r o f h i s m i n d
H e h t h a wis do m t h at d o t h gui d e h i s v l our
T o a ct i n s a fet y
'
Tis
a
e
,
,
,
a
a
.
S H AK
S PERE
—
M
a cbe th
.
N aya l aughed sof tly joyou s ly and beat he r
l i ttle h an d o n the s addl e ho rn
“
”
And then L e n wh at di d you ?
“
I th o ught th e c am p w as a roun d h er e so me
whe r e so I tied R aj ah d ow n the gul c h and wa s
c raw l i n a round i n the wood when I hea rd th at
funny waili n mu s i c I peeked th rough th e
b ru s h an d th e re h e s at lo o ki n lik e a p i c tu r e i n
—
one of M r Dun s mui r s bo o k s o ne of them
b ook s of G r eek god s an d godde ss e s and h ang
i n to a b ran c h a b ove h i s head w as a li ttle white
ha n dke r c h i ef a flu tte ri n i n th e wi n d I knowed
r i gh t away it wa s y o u rs a n d I so r t 0 gue ss ed
that may be h e wa s on o u r s i d e so I s tep s u p
ri ght qui c k a n d s ay s F rien d
I th o ught may
b e h e woul d k now th a t w or d an d s u re eno ugh
F rien d a ns w ers h e ; b u t th a t s all h e kno w e d
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266
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
f o r d ro ppi n h is will o w o n t he m oss s o ft l i k e a s
i f i t w as a b aby an d might wake u p h e s n at c he d
down the h an dke rc hi ef a n d begin s a maki n
s i gn s like a s i f w e w e re b o th dea f an d dumb H e
—
p oi n ted to wa r d th e su n i t wa s only tw o hou r s
ago y o u kn o w an d th e n c l os ed h i s eye s a s i f
goi n to s leep ; th en o pe ni n them qui c k h e
p o i n ted to wa r d t he c amp an d p at t th e h a n d
ke rc hie f an d th en the g ro u n d so I k n owed you d
b e the re a b out s un dow n The I n di an ki d s don t
know the ol d s ig n l angu age mu c h I gue s s Th e
wh ite p eople i s c h angi n th e i r c u s t o m s p r e t ty
f a s t but he s u r e w as a goo d one at m aki n u p
on e o f h i s o w n Then h e s ign s me to fo ll o w an d
h i de s me i n th e f a r en d o f th at s t r i p 0 w oo d
whe re R aj ah w as an d g o e s b a c k t o th a t c ree py
mu s i c maki n Th a t h o u r s e e m e d a p lumb c e n
tu ry H e s s u r e a r ummy ki d Wh a t s h i s
”
n ame ?
“
B oy o f the Wi ll o w Mu s i c G ran dm o th e r
Sweet G ra ss c all s h i m An d th e n w e di d ru n
r un an d fi n d yo u an d R aj ah an d now w e wil l
”
n eve r neve r s top unti l w e a re w i th f ath er
The eye s s he tu r ned towa rd h im we r e th e
happ ie s t L en h ad eve r s ee n H e thought vagu e
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2 67
o f a deep deep m o untai n pool h e ha d p a ss ed
a few day s s i nce who s e s u rfa c e trem b led wi th
ri f t s of s unligh t an d th e re fl ec ti o n of w in d toss ed
leave s
”
“
I hope s o h e s ai d a littl e g r av e ly but Ra
”
j ah s aw f ul ti red Poo r old fellow ! and h e
p ut a s ym patheti c ha n d o n th e gray s gaun t s i de
“
H e s h ad p retty s teady trav e l i n fo r mo s t a
week now I m a fr ai d you r f athe r will th i nk I
w as p retty s low but the t r a i l wa s so m ix ed up
I f he c a n hol d out anothe r e i gh t o r ten ho u rs ,
we l l b e at Antelop e S p ri n gs a n d then we re al l
r igh t D ougal i s there with h o rs e s an d they
”
wo n t b o the r the tw o o f u s
They we r e al r eady s ev e ral mil es f ro m th e I n
di an vill age and R aj ah had s ettl ed i n to hi s b e s t
gait whi c h he c oul d s u s tai n f o r hou rs w i thou t
b eing wi n d e d The f rankne ss with which they
s ki rted th e b ru s h an d b i ts of woodland might
have s eemed u nwi s e b ut L en s on e thought wa s
to r ea c h the S p ri n g s an d Dougal N ot th at he
h ad the s lighte s t f ea r fo r him s el f b ut he m e an t
i f p oss i b le to a cco mpli s h h i s m i ssi on withou t
”
“
the lead b ullets that Will i am had wa r n ed him
agai n s t
ly
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268
N A YA
te r hunti n g w as nor th he thought ; p e rh ap s the
I ndi an s h ad gon e i n th at di re c tion
“
”
H ow mo s t gl ad fa the r will b e ! s a i d N aya
b r e aking he r h ap py reve r ie
Th e n sh e c augh t s ight o f h is h agga rd eyes
They h ad l o s t thei r s oft topaz glow an d we r e
sc anning the b luff s wi th a s t r ange an d h awk
l ike k ee nn ess L ike a fla s h s he real ized h i s deep
s en se o f r e s p o n s i b i li ty an d saw the days of t o il
an d d read wh i c h he h ad undergo ne f o r he r s ake
Som e th ing deep and untou c hed s ti r r ed wi thin
her
“
”
“
D ea r Lenn ie s h e s ai d s o f tly so b rave
—
so t i red
I give you s u c h great great tr o u b le a
so terri b l e j ou rney
F athe r alway s ki ss e s me t o
”
f orgive my b adne ss an d sh e l i fted her face to
h im al l aligh t wi th o n e o f her warm hea rted
s mi le s
The s train e d l oo k di e d fro m L en s e yes H e
t r em b led an d f o r one i neff a b le moment hi s l ip s
tou c hed he r c h e ek Then he di s mounted
”
“
I l l ju s t run fo r awh ile he s aid fla s hing a
“
b rief lo o k at he r
R aj ah s gettin ti red
D e s p ite hi s fatigue he s et o ff at a rap i d s te ady
p a c e The day b ef ore a s tr e tch o f c l e a rly de
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27 0
A S TORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
fined t r a i l h ad giv en s u c h u n mi s taka b l e ev i
dence of th e I ndi an s i n te n ded de s ti n ation th at
he h ad not p au s ed at nigh t f all b ut p u s h e d o n
th r o ugh th e da rkn ess f eel i ng ce rtain he c oul d
r e co v e r i t at dayl ight H e h ad not s l e p t fo r al
m os t f o r ty eight hou r s a n d i n o rde r to s ave the
h ors e ma n y of th e s e h ad b een s pen t on f o o t B ut
as he ran h i s though ts h ad nothi ng to do wi th
s leeple ss n ights an d l os t trai l s an d day s o f de s
p erate a n xie ty
The r e wa s a quiet p al i ng o f the lu s t r ou s
ti nted s un s et an d th e co mfo rting twil i gh t c ame
”
“
s te aling ove r th e h i ll s
N eve r neve r again !
“
he s ai d to h im s el f p a ss ion ately not even he r
—
c heek until
Ye s un til
Why s houl d he
s t ru ggle agai n s t i t any longer ? Why s h o ul d h e
deny i t ? I mpo ss ible ! H e s u ddenly saw h i s
love a s a gi ft f rom th a t my s ti c B ei n g i n wh ose
p re s ence all the can t o f rel igion s an d s e c t s
s h rivel s l ike c orn hu s k s a gi f t to h e r a b e aut i
f ul so mething whi c h had r i s en i n h is s oul l ike
the mo r n i ng s un an d who se rays o f tender n e ss
an d s tre n gth an d devoti o n w e r e to s hi ne u p on
he r a n d glo ri f y he r li fe u nto th e e n d of all
thi ng s Why s houl d he deny he r th at s up reme
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27 1
,
N A YA
b le ss i n g ? All the a rgum e nt s and qualm s o f c o n
sc ience that h ad c ha ra c terized h i s forme r s t rug
gle s di s appea red l ike th e mi s t b ef ore a new an d
re s plendent day I f her f a th e r took he r to E ng
l and ? I f sh e n ev e r r e tu rned ? Well he woul d
—
go a fte r he r i n a few yea r s Pe rh ap s s ome
—
quiet e vening l ik e th i s all s o f t du s k a n d p ale
—
—
yellow s kie s h e w o ul d b e tell ing he r h o l di ng
her
L en drew a long b reath The thought
o f her womanh o od w as l ike a s a c r ame n t
R aj ah s tum b led and f el l heavi ly to hi s kne es
“
”
H e mo s t dead p o o r R aj ah s ai d N aya s li p
“
pi ng to the groun d I th ink he go n o t mu c h
”
f a rthe r
Afte r a m o m e nt o f l a bo red e ffo rt the h o r s e
regained h i s f ooting and tu rned to look at them
with p atient wonde ring eye s L en s e x ultation
wa s quenched i n thi s fre s h an x iety H e ran to a
ti ny ri ll th at welled f r o m the hill s i de nea r b y
an d c aught a h at f ull o f wat e r with whi c h he
r ap i dly wa s hed the poo r b ea s t s m o uth
“
There s nothin to do b u t to h i de in th e br u s h
an d let i m re s t I t s fiftee n mile s y e t t o Ante
l op e S p r ings and
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272
N AY A
“
B e tte r not to talk , perhap s ,
and they c o n tinued i n S ilen ce
”
h e s a i d s o f tly
,
.
The cres t of the b luff p roved an admi ra b le
hi ding pl a c e I t wa s thi c kly s p rinkl e d with
sc ru b pi ne s a n d j uni pe rs inter s pe rs ed wi th
pat c he s of gra ss ; b ut R aj ah w as too ti red to ea t
When the s addle w as removed he f ell t o th e
g r oun d an d b egan roll ing and groaning i n a
pe rfe c t e cs ta cy o f relief The ni ght h ad g rown
rathe r s h a rp b ut of cou r s e i t wa s ou t of th e
que s ti o n to kindl e a fi re L en w r apped h i s
s h or t b u c k s kin c oa t a b ou t N aya and fe eli ng f o r
a level s p o t S p read the s addle b l anket f o r h e r
“
“
h e s aid b ut the
I t s a p retty tough b ed
p i n e s i s as o l d a s the h ill s them s elve s so M other
”
E a r th 11 h ave to b e you r m att r e ss
”
“
Y o u thi nk I take all ? a s ked N aya i nd i g
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nantl y
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”
“
I s h o ul d say n ot he an s we re d p r omp tly
“
Do you think I d al l ow s uch a ho rri b le thing ?
I m goin to eat j u s t h al f o f thi s Dutch oven
b read I t s only a week ol d an d I ado re c rum bs
And he r e s veni s on i n del i c ate li ttle s l i c e s a s b ig
”
a s thi s b luff
I f the F o untai n of H app ine ss h ad s ud denly
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27 4
.
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
gu s hed f rom the s a n d s t on e c l iff an d to u c h e d
th em wi th i t s magi c S p ray th ei r m oo d c oul d not
h ave c h ange d mo re c omp letely They s at Tu rk
f a s hi o n o n the s addle b l anke t the st al e an d
c rumbled f o o d betwee n th em an d gaily sc a n ne d
ea c h other s f ace s i n th e d im s ta rs hi ne
“
Why gra n dmothe r wh at a s o bi g m o u th y o u
”
h ave sh e s a i d a s h e c augh t u p a h an d f ul o f
c rumb s an d hung ry b oy f a s h ion m ad e way wi th
them i n a j i ff y
”
“
Th e b e t ter to e a t y o u w i th , h e r u mbl e d
o min o u s ly
“
O h , I d i d s ay th e R e d R i d i n g H o od to b aby
—
C a rv e r H an n ah di d s ay i t t o me you k no w
and I m ad e the gr o wl so real th at h e di d c r y
and I h ad to give h im th r e e lum p s of b r own
s uga r f o r a b u sh Wh at a so l o v e ly f u nn y p ic n ic !
”
O h L e n l oo k 1
A p ai r of s h i n in g e y es gleam e d in th e d a r k n e s s
“
”
J u st a bob c at h e s ai d wavi n g hi s h at at
“
Th e y w o n t b o th er us C o m e n o w
th e be a st
”
l i ttle p i cnic ke r it s b e d t i m e
I n Sp i t e of h er re m o n str a nce h e fo l d e d th e
b l a n ke t a ro u n d h er a n d a rr a n g e d th e s addl e f o r
a p ill o w
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27S
,
N AYA
“
’
I l l s leep a li ttle to o r igh t here at you r f eet
There s no dange r R aj ah s cati n now a n d i n
”
a f ew hou r s w e mu s t go on
“
“
Th e s tar s ! N aya whi s p ere d
They wer e
l ike th at th e night I c ame f rom th e G reat S pi ri t
B eauti ful mother di d s ay they l aughed an d
”
dan c ed on the da rk da rk rive r
“
”
O f c ou rs e they di d they we r e s o gl ad he
“
s ai d s imp ly fo r anothe r l i ttle s ta r had c ome to
l augh an d dan ce wi th em an d mak e p eopl e
,
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h appy f
’
H e l ay o n h i s b a c k l oo ki n g up a t th e l ov e ly
s ky
”
“
—
Do I make you h ap py ? Sh e a s k e d a fter a
l i ttl e p au s e
The faltering s hy v o i c e w as s o unl ik e he r that
h i s eye s tu rned i n he r di re c tion b ut o nly the
f aint o utl i ne o f he r f a c e wa s vi sib le aga ins t th e
d ark s addle H e f o u gh t a m om e n t t o gai n s el f
co ntrol
”
Yes
h e s ai d s l owly h i s v oice s hak in g a
“
li ttle you make me h ap py a n d what s m o re
you mak e me wa n t to be go o d I t s a wonde rf ul
”
—
th ing to m ak e othe r p eo pl e wa nt to b e goo d
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27 6
’
i t wa s n t f o r that b l a s ted mo o n ! O ne co ul d se e
all ove r c reation
H e gave a s tar t H ad h e b ee n dozi n g ? The re
—
w as a s ou thwe s te rly b reez e
the di re c tion o f th e
only a cc e ss to the b luff an d it s eemed to him h e
heard voice s H e h ad bee n d reaming p r o b a b ly
bu t he a ros e to m ake anothe r s u rvey H e h ad
gone b ut a l ittle way when he s topp ed alm os t
p a r alyzed wi th c on s tern ation The r e s qu atting
a rou n d a fi re wh i c h they h ad j u s t kin dled we re
si x o r eigh t I ndi an s
L en gazed at them fixedly
H ad they di sc overe d h i s h iding pl a c e an d we re
th ey c o o lly waiting thei r o wn time be f o re mak
i ng an atta c k real iz ing th at they b lo c ked hi s
only way o f esc ap e ? O r w as i t a c h an c e c amp ?
They we re s everal hu n dred ya rd s di s ta nt an d
h e c oul d not b e s u re I n s ti nc tiv e ly hi s h and
s ough t th e r evolve r at h is b el t I f i t w as a fight
th ey were a f te r at lea s t they w o ul d no t f o r ge t
him ! ui c k ! Ther e w as s u re ly so me w ay of
out tri c king them
H i s b oyi s h face se t qu ic kly i n an e xp ress ion
o f co ol an d i nvin c i b le determinati o n H e mu s t
de c i d e on a pl an b e for e awakening N aya T ry
t o S t e al p a s t the c amp t r u s ti n g that the dazzle
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27 8
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
of th e fi r e w o ul d conc eal them ? No ! No !
The m o onl i t n igh t an d thei r keen I n di an s en s e s
The re w as s u rely s ome way to get down th at
cl iff They m u st H i s whol e p lan b e c ame su d
de nl y s ket c hed on h i s b rai n as wi th fi r e
Wh a t
i f R aj ah di sc ove r ed the p re s en c e o f th e oth e r
ho rs e s an d whinnied ? W o ul d the w i n d s ave
them ? H e tied h im to a t r e e wi th the b r i dle
r ein s a n d s eizi ng th e l a ri a t r a n t o th e c l iff H e
p ee r ed ove r the edge n ow here n ow the r e a n d
finally cho s e wh at se eme d to b e i t s s hallowe s t
poin t a n d kn o tted one end o f the r o pe to an
ove rh anging t r e e I t di dn t r ea c h ! Th e bl anke t !
”
“
N aya he s ai d b en ding ove r he r
”
“
H a s th e m o rni hg co me ? sh e mu r m u red
d row s ily an d sat up b ewil dered b y h e r s h o r t
he avy s leep an d the a b rup t awaken in g
”
“
“
N o h e s ai d b ut w e a r e g o i n on to the
”
S p ring s I wa n t the b l anket Don t s p e ak loud
H e s l i pped i t f r o m u n d er he r an d began tea r
i ng i t i n s tri p s
“
”
Wh at do y o u , Len ? s h e a s k e d i n a s tonis h
me nt
H e saw th at sh e wa s f ul ly awake
“
The I n d i a ns a r e nea r W e m us t s w in g ov er
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19
2 79
N AY A
”
the b lu ff and run The l a ri at ain t long enough
She followed h im in S ilence b ut s he wa s so
e x ci ted th a t h e co ul d hea r he r s h o r t i nten s e
b reath ing
“
”
“
L en I n e v er h av e s h e s ai d
I t is so fa r
”
an d so b l a c k
She wa s kneeling on the b rink o f th e c liff
pee ring f a r down at th e great s hadowy b oul de r s
at i ts b a s e Len h a d fini s hed hi s S pl icing and wa s
ready
“
”
“
Y ou mu s t he s ai d a l ittl e s te rnly
Lo ok
you r h and s l ike th i s I ll go fi r s t Wai t unti l
I m at the bo ttom There i s n o dange r I co ul d
”
catch yo u
H e took a fi rm h o l d a n d d ropped o v er th e
b luff s edge while Sh e leaned a n d wat c hed he r
hea rt b eati ng p ain fully
“
Thou s i lly ra bb i t h ea rt thou mu s t thou
”
mu s t s h e s ai d to he r s el f sc o rnf ully i n B l ack
foot
H e wa s wavi n g h is h at fro m the b ot tom She
c augh t th e r ope a s he had s hown he r an d i n
anothe r m o m e nt the e a r th s l i pp ed f rom un de r
he r f eet an d sh e wa s s waying in mi d ai r an d
s lowly s l i p p i n g d ow n w a r d She f el t a s i f her
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2 80
N AY A
l i d Sl o pe s like the ruined magni fi c en c e o f an
an c ient city long S in c e fallen an d fo rgotten A
r o w o f dead cottonw oo d s s tood s tark and b are
b y a d ry c reek b ed thei r withe red a rm s out
s tretched as i f i nvi ting th e m to j oi n thei r S pec
tral rank s The effe c t wa s s o r eali s ti c th at N aya
called L en s attention t o i t
“
”
“
Y e s he s ai d b ut they n ee dn t b e be cko ni n
”
to u s
H e h ad b egu n to b re ath e mo r e ea s i ly b ut
poo r chi ld what a j aun t wh at a terri fying e x
—
—
e
r
i
e
the
c
lif
the
though
t
o
f
po
ss
i
b
le
e
n
c
f
p
s ho o ti ng were they di s covered the b lood s hed
the re c aptu re ! How ti red s he mu s t b e !
“
N ow I m goin to c a r ry you a s pell
H e c aught h er up and s t r ode on r ap i dly She
wa s growing very ti red an d m ad e no r emon
s trance b ut lay quiet with he r c heek agai n s t
hi s S houl der H e r e s trained him s el f l ike a hero
keepi ng hi s eye s alway s on the d ry c reek b ed he
wa s f ollowing ; b ut the thought s flamed Du r
i ng the long long S ep a r ati o n whe n the l o ne l i
ne ss a n d lo n g i ng wer e wor s t h e woul d r emem
—
b e r ju s t th i s th e l ittle a rm c li n gi n g a b out h i s
—
neck the lock s o f s oft h ai r b lowing in h i s face
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2 82
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
H e mu st be c a ref ul Th e s trai n the s leep l ess
ne ss o f th e p a s t week s ometh ing h ad u p s et him
—
H e mu s t s ave an d c heri s h all all u n ti l th at
b eauti ful time wh en there woul d b e no m or e
loneli ne ss no mo re s ep a rati o n Then th e p roud
S p i ri t s o s ure of it s o wn wo r th i ts o wn s trength
b owed it s head b e f ore th e r emem b ra nc e o f
so mething Dougal h ad s ai d on e day
”
“
H umil i ty i s th e gra c e Wh at i f s h e l o v e d
s om e o ne i n E ngl an d ; wh at i f sh e saw i n him
only an i gno r ant c ommon co w pun c he r who s e
c h ie f a cc omp li s hmen t w as ro p i n g s tee rs an d
b u s ting b ron c ho s ? What i f sh e even l aughed
at him ? Something deep an d s en s i tive i n L en s
hea r t c rie d out i n p ai n the n th e re w as a fla r e a s
o f s heet l igh tn ing N o ! L ove s u c h as h e h ad
to off er he r wa s mo r e th an fine c lothe s an d fine
m anner s ; S he woul d b e c aught i n i ts mi gh ty c u r
ren t an d s wep t on an d on
H e s u ddenly b e c ame conscio u s t h at N aya w as
looki ng at him wi th in ten t ey es
“
”
Wh at i s i t ? he a s ked looki n g dow n
“
”
—
Plea s e L en I I will walk s h e s ai d s hyly
an d h e pl a c ed he r on the grou n d withou t a wo rd
“
”
O n ly a fe w m ore mil es h e s a i d a f t e r a l o ng
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28 3
N AYA
“
’
s i len c e
We l l j u s t re s t a s p e ll i n the s had ow of
thi s b utte Them l i ttle mo cc a s i n s i s p retty thin
and you r feet mu s t b e tri e d I hav e s ome whi s ky
Shall I ru b them ?
H e knew how th e y mu s t a c he a f te r th e mile s
o f b ru s h a nd ro c k and h i s m ann er un co n sc iou s ly
enveloped he r i n the f ol d s o f a love so i nfini t e
and so gentle th at s he trembled
”
“
—
N o I th ank yo u s h e ret u rne d a n d h e s aid
no mo re a b out i t
H e sat a littl e ap a rt fr om he r hi s b r o ad
b rimmed h at p u s hed b a c k fr om hi s b row h i s
eye s sc anning th e s u rroundi ng b u tte s a n d bi t s
of pl ain N aya s h and plu c ked re s tle ss ly at a
li ttle s age b ru s h F inally sh e l e a n ed f o rwa r d
“
L enni e sh e s ai d
H e tu rned wi th a S ta r t
“
Soon we will be wi th D o ugal a n d then a t th e
—
r anch with the m a n y I ju s t wanted to s ay I
—
mean I wi s h i t p oss i b l e to say th e thank s f o r
all I think to i t m o re a n d m o re The r e i s n o
”
f o rgetting
”
“
There i s no fo rge tti n f o r me e i th er h e s a i d
“
with o ut looking at he r an d you hav e n o th i n t o
tha n k m e fo r ; b u t I mu s t tha n k G o d al l my l i f e
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2 84
wa s s ay in g a s h e hel p e d D o ugal w ith th e b re ak
f as t
N aya l oo k e d at him with so m eth i n g of be
wilderment i n he r s we e t da r k eye s then s h e
tu r ned away She w o ul d s tay only l on g enough
to d rink s ome c off e e s aying the rid e w o ul d re s t
he r and i n a qua rte r o f an hou r th ey S ta rte d
Th at n igh t w as S pent i n th e s h a c k of a lonely
ranchman whe re eve rythi ng w as do n e fo r he r
th at c rude b u t gen e rou s ho s p i tali ty co ul d dev is e
an d the fo llowi ng evening they a rriv e d hom e
N aya s li p ped f rom Pe h ta s b a c k and ran to
wa rd th e hou s e S he op en ed th e do or s o f tly a n d
looked i n Wi ll i am l ay o n a c ou c h b y th e r ive r
wind ow hi s inju r ed fo ot on a pi llow A boo k
wa s i n h i s h and b u t he h ad clo s ed i t and wa s
gaz ing o ut on th e mu ddy s wi rling wat e r s of the
P owder hi s b r o w d r awn a s in p ai n H e heard
a s l ight noi s e an d tu rn e d Then he gave a gl ad
c ry an d i n another mom e nt they w e re l aughi ng
a n d c ryi n g in ea c h oth er s a rm s
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C HAPT E R ! V
H ere is a p ro m is e o f s u mm ers to
W M ERN ES T H EN LEY—Rhy mes
.
be
.
a nd
Rhy th ms
.
I t h a d gr ow n very hot an d al though only the
l a s t week o f J une th e fl ower s we re dyi n g an d
th e s h riveled s talk s o f the s o ap pl an t r attled
h u s ki ly i n th e s co r c hing wi n d O u t on the p l ai n
th e S c a rlet m allow an d l il ie s d roo ped an d wi th
e re d wh il e th e r attl es n ake s c rep t an d co iled
am o ng them i n s luggi s h co n te n t
O l d Tom h ung ove r hi s ga rde n l ike a m o th e r
o ve r a s ick c hi l d H e wa s th e p i o nee r th e ol d
time r who s e advent to th e Powde r R ive r country
w as antedi luv i an an d who s e opi n ion on m atte rs
o f c l im ate wa s a bs olutely ora c ul a r
“
I c om e to the s e here p a rt s when th e B i g
ho r n s w as j e s t a
he s ai d to A rthu r
“
a n d I ll
w h o w as hel p in g h im i n th e ga rden
be ev er l a s t in gly ke rfloppe re d i f I e ve r se e s uch
”
weathe r a s th is he re
Th e ol d man leaned on hi s ho e an d m o p ped
h i s f a c e wi th hi s great b andan a
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28 7
N A YA
“
”
The lettu c e i s l oo ki n pu rty tu rri bl e b ad
he conti nued p re s ently a s b e b e n t ove r the yel
“
l o wing leave s b u t I re c kon i t don t much mat
te r When di d you say the folk s i s a
”
D ay a f te r t o mo rrow
an s we red Arthu r
hoeing so s avagely th at the ai r wa s f ull not only
of di rt an d weed s b ut o f tu rni p top s a s well
S he hated tu rnip s an d h e f el t l ik e s l a s hing them
all i nto s liver s
D ay a rte r to m o r ry ! s igh e d O l d Tom
The s e he re di ggin s ul l b e pu r ty tame wi thou t
th e leetl e gal a o rde ri n u s a roun d and spoi l i n
u s all i n a mi nute Th at there long h ai r ed dog
0
he rn w as a c h a s i n my young pullets o ne day
and I je s t let fly a h andful o clod s at th e va r let
She s een me f rom the tree yen de r an d S he w as
madde r n a hatte r
Tom ! sh e se z a ru nni n
I f you do th at again I l l kill you ! I
to a rd me
will y o u ho rri d ol d man
O l d Tom c hu c kled
“
s oftly
I n ten mi nute s s he wa s o ut th ar wi th a
h and f ul 0 f ried c ake s an d a c up 0 ro o t b eer
an d a coax i n and a pe tti n me l ike a kitten
Th a r s som e th i n awful queer and f e tch i n a b out
An d now s he l l b e
e r fe r all he r tantrum way s
h ittin fer the O l d C ountry ! H um ! Hum ! Th at
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288
N AY A
i n relie f f o r a g reat s ymp athy h ad S p rung up
b e tween him an d the S c otc h fo r eman
I m o ff to th a f ooth ill s ran c h f o r a week o r s o
an I ve j u s t s ai d my goodi e by to th a b ai rn i e
”
Y o u an L en weel take th a fou k s ta e t o on
H i s eye s looked s u s pi c iou s Arthu r th o ught ,
b ut th e manne r w as as chee ry a s eve r
”
H o ot on ye m annie di dn a b e ca s t doon h e
conti n ued noting th e b oy s woe be gone cou nte
“
n ance U n c le W e e l u m l l b e b a c k in a f ew
month s an tha l a ss too so me day I v e b een a
talki n m atte rs ow e r w i him all th a m o rni n an
ye re to go on the range w i L en thi s s ummer an
fall Y e l l b e i n fine spee ri te d c omp any
They were walking to wa rd the s ta b le s n ow
an d at the s e wo rd s A rthu r s e xp r e ss i o n bec ame
l e ss doleful
Wi th L en ? J im in y th a t s g re at ! H e s a
”
dandy all righ t
“
”
Y e s L e n s s hu re a dandy an s we re d the b ig
“
S c otchm an i f that mean s som e th i n r ee c h an
s terlin un der the wil dne ss 0 one an twenty
b ut he s b een p retty s teady the s e la s t twelve
mon th s an wa rk ! Gu de ne ss ! H e s te rri fy i n
H e wud h a e s ta rted for th e ra n ge th a ve ry n e xt
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20 0
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
’
day a f ter we c ame f ra e th a no rth w i th a ba i rn ie
only y i r uncle wu d n a e let h im P o o r l ad ! H e
looked a s i f he h ad n ae S lep t f o r a f o rtnight
“
—
An d th en he k n ow s s u c h a lot n ot S tuff like
—
I u s ed to c hu c k at sc hool i n E ngl and but a b ou t
th ings th a t a re all a r o un d u s Y e s te r day he w as
tellin g me abou t th e ra ttl e sn ake s I f anythin g
sc a re s the young one s you kn o w w h y the m o the r
j u st gulp s them down a s i f th ey w er e he r b reak
—
fa st j u s t th i nk the whol e me ss o f n a s ty l ittl e
wr i ggling th ings an d when the dange r i s o ve r
w h y s he j u s t co ugh s them u p agai n an d the re
”
you a r e
”
“
Shu re h e s obse rv i n i s th e l ad s a i d th e
S c ot c hman s mi ling at th e oth e r s en thu s i a s m
“
a n w h a s mo re hi s i ntell igen ce is aw aki n a n
a g row i n i n a w ay th at s su rp ri si n Th a i the r
ni c ht I h ap pened to th a b unk h o u s e a n h e s a t on
—
hi s bed a telli n the boys all aboo t bee s honey
b ee s M r s H a rtwell h ad so me an d he ha d ob
s e rv e d em H e made i t th at i nte re sti n th at i t
wa s l i k e a f ai ry tale an th a b oys we re a h u d dl i n
a roond h i m lik e a l o t 0
ba i rns W ee l g oo di e
by l ad Tak e c a re 0 y i rse l I l l se e y e an
”
L en on th a l o we r rang e n ext w e ek
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29 1
’
N AY A
A r thu r wat c hed him out of s ight and then
went b ack to O l d Tom an d h i s hoe Dougal
always made thi ngs s eem wo rth wh ile s omehow
H e felt de c i dedly le ss hopele ss an d b ega n to dig
”
“
groun d wi th energy H e d wa r k an d b e ter
”
r i fy i n
too and i n a yea r o r tw o h e d h ave
money en o ugh to go to C li fdale o n a vi s i t j u s t
to se e he r and th e folk s ; b ut not to s tay you be t
D e a r ol d L en ! Wh at f un they d h ave !
.
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F or N aya wa s really going to E ngland The re
.
h ad b een a s truggle a s truggl e Will i am di d not
l ike to think a b out an d now th at sh e h ad yiel ded
S he went a b ou t the hou s e with a s till s ad look
that made h i s hea rt a c he At fi r s t sh e h ad
p leaded s o f tly an d confidently feeling s u re tha t
s he c oul d ove r co me th e grav e E ngli s h fa the r a s
S h e h ad done s o m any m any time s b efo re ; b ut
h e h ad r emai n ed fi r m a n d then and there h ad
b een tea rs b i tte r tea r s b i tte r p a ss ionate t e a rs o f
p leadi ng and ange r an d denun c i ation o f E ng
l a n d an d eve rything pe r taining the ret o en ding
i n a mo o d o f quiet S te e l l ike o bs tina c y
”
“
I g o n o t sh e h ad ann o u nc ed w ith a n a i r of
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29 2
N AY A
h ave i t ove r wi th a s s oon a s po ss i b le H an n ah
w as in N aya s r oom now s ele c ti ng a n d p a c king
the c hil d s th ing s I t w as a relie f to h ave her
he r e again ; sh e wa s s o quiet an d p ra c ti c al an d
c apa b l e i n every way and i t had b een an e x
—
de c i s ion th at o f taking he r Po o r
ce l l e nt
b roken lonely li fe how c ruel t o h av e taken
N aya f rom he r ; and th e n b e s i d es th e c hil d wa s
deeply atta c hed to her an d i t m ade the goi n g
le ss ha r d She p a ss ed th rough th e s i tti ng room
an d the h ap py ene rgy in he r s tep an d voice p ro
c laimed th at at lea s t one pe rs on on the ranch
wa s not mo pi ng over the s udden tu rn o f even ts
She woul d fa c i litate m atter s i n th e travel ing t o o
Wil li am gl anced u p at N aya an d though t i t
b etter not to di s tu r b he r Dea r sad li ttle thi n g
Woul d s he
sh e had never even b een on a train
b e i nte re s ted o r woul d sh e b e merely r e p elled
and mou rn a f res h f o r the beautie s sh e wa s leav
i ng ? I t s e e med a h ar s h thing to do to tea r h er
f rom the l i fe sh e ado r ed a l i fe which woul d giv e
her s u c h endu r i ng c ontent F o r i t woul d b e
endu ring i f h e kept her f r o m the f eve r an d u n
r e s t o f that oth e r li f e H e s ti r red res tle ss ly I t
Afte r all the trou b l e
w as the ol d que s tion again
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2 94
.
,
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
w i th th e I n di an s had had l i t tl e to do wi th th is
s u dden p l an ; i t h ad me r ely h as tened a S tep that
wa s i nevita b le H e mu s t S h o w he r the wo rl d o f
affai r s an d p eople an d a rt an d th e n i f sh e c ho s e
thi s l i fe a s he h ad h e woul d at lea s t h ave d o ne
h i s duty a s a f athe r B u t sh e woul d neve r co me
b a c k Al a s ! Th e ve ry i n telli ge nce s o qu ic k s o
f an c i f ul th at he ad o red i n he r woul d s ei ze o n
s ome ta s k ou t the re i n the wo rl d and i n the de
li ght o f he r un fo l di ng f a c ulti e s i n the revel ation
o f a rt o r love o r s omethi ng o r o the r S he woul d
b e gradu ally wea n ed f rom he r wi l d way s grad
u al l y imm es hed i n th e h ap p ine ss o r s orrow o f a
n ew li f e Then h e woul d be all alone ! Wel l
p a rent s s h o u l dn t e x pe c t th Cl I chil d ren to b e
j u s t like them to l ive e x a c tly as they woul d h av e
them A l i f e belo n g s to i t s el f a n d s h o ul d fo llow
i t s o wn i nne r c oun s el ing
I t w as e x tremely awkwa r d f o r him th i s going
away j u s t now There were c attle thi e ve s i n
th e c oun t ry an d he ought to be ou t o n the r a n ge
thi s minute ; b ut he wa s l e av i ng the bu s ine ss i n
m igh ty good h an d s H e tru s ted Dougal a s him
—
s el f and then there wa s L en th at m agnifi c en t
boy ! H e mu s t do s omethi n g fo r him so metim e
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29 5
N AY A
O f cou r s e i t wa s imp oss i b le to th ink o f p aying
h im f o r wh at he di d fo r N aya a week ago he
—
w as s uch a p roud young devil
the me re doing
w as s uffi c ien t payment f o r s u c h a n atu re b ut
p e rhap s b y and b y when he retu rned for the b eef
—
u
roun d p he woul d fo rm a c omp any Dougal
A rthu r an d L en Y e s i t woul d b e a good th ing
fo r he woul d h ave to b e away mo s t of the t ime
no w an d
”
F athe r s ai d N aya s uddenly
“
”
C ome he re da rl ing What i s i t ?
She left the window an d walked S lowly to
wa rd th e c ou c h The n s he s ank to a s tool b y hi s
s ide an d l eaned he r head again s t h im
”
—
s he s ai d
I I wi s h to take F ehta anyway
“
he s i tatingly
I s up po s e i t i s not po ss i b le to take
al l th e l i ttle wil d th ing s I wi s h to mu c h b ut
—
you think th e re a re to o many ye s
Willi am w as deep ly touched b y th e p atheti c
plea b u t he coul d not help s miling at the su d
de n vi s ion o f a Pullman S leepe r overru n with
horned toad s an d racoon s an d ra bb i t s and o f a f
f righted and i ndi gn ant female p a ss enge r s with
upli f ted s ki rts and voi c e s s tan ding te rro r b ou n d
on th ei r se ats
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296
N AYA
qui rt we r e i n hi s h and an d a s he e n t e red w i fh
the ca r ele ss pic tu re s que gra c e so ch aracter i s tic
”
“
o f h im the re w as a c r e ak o f leath e rn S hap s
an d a j ingle o f s teel s pu r s th at we re like a b attle
c ry to N aya She involunta rily c lut c h e d her
fath e r s a rm and Wil li am lo o ked c u ri o u s ly at
the flu s hed eage r fa c e sh e tu rned towa r d the
h and s ome young cow pun c he r E vi dently sh e
f o rgot all a b out E ngl and f o r the ne x t i n s tan t
S h e h ad s p rung to he r feet wi th th e rough bu t
mu s i c al l ittle I n di an c ry wh i c h he r dogs an d
ponie s dou b tle ss heard i n thei r d ream s an d
went dan c ing a b ou t the room i n a pe rf e c t gale
of delight The tw o men l aughed th e n s top ped
a b ru ptl y fi e ach a ss ailed b y h i s own sa d though ts
Thei r eye s met The gaze o f the olde r m a n w as
s ea rchi ng an d a li ttle s tern b ut the younger re
“
tu r ned i t wi th out fli nch i ng
Y ou know I won t
”
“
S peak
th e b ro w n ey e s s ai d p roudly
Yo u
”
know I tru s t you
the gray o ne s an s wered
s often ing
”
“
G o da r li n g i f yo u w is h Will i am s ai d to
“
N aya b u t w h y n o t wai t until a f ter dinne r ? I t
”
i s alm os t n o o n now
“
S e e Y up will g i ve me the li ttle s andw ic he s
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2 98
S he l
ook
ed
d ow n
u
o
p
n the
o
h me
s he
w a s to l e a v e
so s
oo
n
.
m e llow e d b y tim e an d su n t o s h ade s o f sof te s t
b r own an d g r ay an d green There i t wa s th e
o ld log hou s e o n th e wi nding r ive r a n d the co t
tonw ood grove an d th e c orral s an d the co rnfield
The day w as hot an d s ti l l an d they nei the r
moved n o r s poke L e n thought he h ad n eve r
—
s een he r l o ok so I n di a n so in h a r m on y with her
s u rroundings
A s i f realiz ing the dep rivation s of the futu re
s he h ad ado rned he r s el f in the b a r b ari c s plendo r
wh i c h to th e red ra c e o f the wil d ern e ss i s a s p re
c i o u s a s b reath i ts el f
G radu ally th rough H an
n ah s ta c t f ul en deavor s sh e h ad b een pe r s u aded
to more civilized atti re b ut thi s m o rn ing the r e
wa s no s ign o f th at good woman s i nfluen c e H e r
mo cc a s in s and tunic o f doe s ki n we re ri c hly em
b roi dered wi th b ead s and f eather s an d a c lu s te r
o f whi te plum age drooped over th e pu rple b l a c k
h ai r now gli nting wi th the fi r es of the no o nday
—
n
su
She s at immova b le a s tatu e s trangely
s i gn ifi c ant an d s trang e ly fitti ng ; a n I n di an
m ai den mou rning ove r the lo s t realm s o f he r
p e ople
Th e gl ow i n Len s eye s deep ened an d deep
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A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
—
ened O h , to tou c h t o tou c h th at i s the ne v er
c ea s in g c ry o f love
H e r h an d d rop p ed an d wi thout a word S he
reined F ehta o n up th e hill The y o u n g c ow
p un c he r f ollow e d i n a s u dden s p a s m o f m i s ery
an d ange r Why tea r the c hil d f rom the ve ry
li fe S h e w as b o r n to ? I f he c oul d o n ly c at c h th e
wil d l i ttl e thi ng i n h i s great s trong a rm s an d
hol d he r fo r eve r a n d ev er ! Why her o w n
moth er w as b ut a ye a r ol de r when D u ns mui r
ma rri ed he r B ut th a t wa s di ffe ren t he w o ul d
O f c ou r s e
say a f te r th e f a s hion of all p a ren ts
s he wa s only a li ttl e gi rl h e knew th at well
—
enough h e woul d n t h a s ten m atter s fo r th e
—
wo rl d b ut what a d
S h ame to t ake h e r
away f rom he re t o fill he r head full o f the trick s
and non s en s e of th at a rtifi c i al thing c alled c ivili
—
z a ti o n
p rogre ss an d s poil thi s b eauti f ul wo rk
of natu re Y et i n s p ite of her c hil d way s s h e h ad
a c omp reh e n s ion fa r b eyond he r yea r s H e t e
called an e vening a c ouple o f month s p re v i ou s
when he r f athe r h ad be en readi ng alou d to th em
“
”
—
fr om Th e L a st o f th e M ohi c an s
th at final
b eauti f ul c h ap te r whe rei n the Del awa re m ai d
e ns c h a n t thei r e x qui s ite an d mou rn ful eul o gy
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30 1
N AY A
to th e dead wa r rio r U n c a s and th e lov e ly E ng
l i s h C o ra fo r whom he h a s vainly give n hi s li fe
L en h ad b or r owed the b o o k a f t e rwa rd s and h ad
read and thought a b ou t the pa ss age th at h ad s o
t o u c hed N aya u n til he knew i t almo s t b y h e a rt
S he c alled h im th e p anthe r of h i s t r i b e and
de scr i b ed h im a s one who se m occ a si n l ef t no
trail o n th e dew s ; who se b oun d w as l ik e th e l e ap
of th e young fawn ; who s e eye w as b righte r than a
s tar in th e dark night ; and who s e voi c e i n b attle
wa s lou d as th e thun de r of M anitou
They
exho r ted he r to be o f c hee rf ul min d and to fea r
no th ing f o r he r f utu r e wel f a r e
a
wa r rio r w as at her S i de w h o w as abl e to p ro te ct
he r again s t eve ry danger They p r o mi s ed that
he r p ath s houl d b e p lea s ant and her b u rden l igh t
They c autioned he r again s t un avail i ng r egret s
fo r the f r iend s of her youth an d th e sc ene s Whe re
he r father s h ad dwelt ; a ss u ring he r that the
b le ss ed hunting ground s of the L e n ap e c on
tai ne d vale s a s p lea s ant s tr e am s a s pu r e an d
flower s a s s weet a s the heaven of the p al e face s
Then i n a wi l d b u r s t of thei r c h an t they
s ang wi th uni ted v o ice s the tempe r o f th e M o
h i can s min d
They p ronoun c ed him no b le
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3m
N AY A
“
”
’
“
Talki n h e lp s th o ugh t Le n an I ll ju s t
”
keep a go rn
When you writ e t o u s yo u m us t tak e tu rn s
add re ss i ng the l ette r s o r el s e ther e l l be a te r r i b l e
r o w Z e leetle Pi co fo r in s tan c e I f h i s kni f e
wa s n t right h andy he d b rain the lu c ky one with
h i s stri ngbox and S e e Y up ! G ra c iou s d on t
S l ight him ! The re d b e noth in l e f t wi th i n a
hun d red mil es e x ce p t him and th e b u tc h er
”
kn i fe
H e w as o utwa rdly qui te him s el f now b ut the
eff o rt of s el f r ep r ess ion h ad left h im s hake n a n d
terri fied at the f orce of hi s love She di d not re
S po nd to h i s non s en s e an d evi de n tly it h ad not
b een c hee ri ng fo r when he s tole a lo o k at h e r
th e wi s t f ul s adn ess i n he r f ace s mote hi s hea rt
”
“
O f c o u r s e I wil l wri te sh e s ai d at length
an d then timi dly Will you make an s wer ?
”
My b ut you v e got c ou rage h e repl i e d
“
Y o u ought to s e e my w ri ti n
I t s n o thin b ut
o rph an a s ylum c ow punche r
”
“
G oodie ! s he s ai d s oftly b eati ng he r p alm
o n the ho rn of the s addle with a l ittle tou c h of
“
he r u s ual l aughi ng s p i ri ts
I write mo s t aw f ul
too J u s t awful L en I l ov e the readi n g b ut
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3
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30 4
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
wh at is the u s e to s p en d h o u rs a n d hou rs on the
c r o oked l i ttl e m a rk s We S houl d u se th e time to
mak e each oth e r h ap py J u s t be s im pl e an d
”
good an d wai t f o r the G r ea t S p i ri t H er face
“
h ad gr o wn th o ught f ul agai n
D o yo u b e l ie ve
”
i n the C h ri s t ? sh e added a b ru ptly
H e ga s ped a l i ttl e S he wa s e vi d e ntly a f te r
hi s r e l igiou s O p i ni o n s an d a s they we r e not p a r
ti cu l a rl y well a ss o rted h e w as s omewh at st ag
e
r
e
H
e
wa
s
f
a
r
f
r
o
m
bei
ng
i
rreli
gi
o
u
s
b
u
t
d
g
the f ew mi ss ion a rie s wh o m i t h a d been h i s mi s
fo r tune to en c ounte r o n th i s di s tant b o rde r o f
c ivi li z ation h ad b een fo r the mo s t p a r t c an t i ng
d o gm atical m a c hi ne s who h ad on ly s e rve d to
al ienate h im even f a rthe r fr om the c re e d s an d
f o rmul a s they uphel d Bu t he k ne w a n d lov e d
th e s to ry o f th e M an of So r row s
“
”
B el ieve th at h e w as a g oo d m a n ? h e a s ked
i n r e tu rn
“
N ot on ly th a t b u t th e son o f the G re at
”
“
S p i ri t Sh e c onti nued mu s i n gly th at h e co ul d
make the wa t e r r ed l ike the b e rry of the ki nni
ki n i c an d i f the s ea wave s we r e a s high a s C lou d
P e ak h e co ul d mak e th e m s m ooth aga in a s th e
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30 5
,
N AY A
p r ai rie H ann ah b elieve s i t I t i s the rel i gi o n
o f the whi te man Do you b el ieve i t L en ?
H ow to an s w er th e s tra n g e c h il d ? L en p o n
de red
”
H e w as a m i gh ty goo d m an he s ai d finally
and the re s t o f u s fellow s i s m e ane r n d i rt be
s id e him ; an d he w as ev e rl a s ti ngly s ma r t to o
whi c h s ome way pe o ple kin d 0 ove r l o ok ; but
the b e s t p a rt o f i t i s he m ak es a man f e e l th at
h o peful an d S el f re spe cti n a s i f we re j u s t a s
good a s h im at b ottom an d i f we only woul d
c oul d be j u s t as b rave an d fin e an d eve rythi ng
I t so und s aw f ul m i x ed u p b u t I th ink th at s
a b ou t i t ; w e a re and co ul d be j u st a s go od as him
”
i f we o nly w o ul d
“
”
Ye s th at i s i t S he a ss ented an d then he r
voi c e s ank to a n o te so deeply S ig n ifi c ant that
“
L en s hea rt alm os t s topp e d b eati ng
Y ou k n ow
l a s t win te r th at m an f rom Poi s on S pi der C reek
I h ave tol d not even f ather o nly yo u H e s ai d
th e things to m e th at we re n o t n i c e Y ou neve r
h ave L en you neve r h ave an d I h av e be en s o
mu c h wi th you an d you a re so b rave an d kind
”
—
an d ev e rything ju s t a s the C h r is t
F o r one s olemn m o ment h i s e ye s s ough t h ers
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30 6
N A YA
I t w as all L en c ould do t o s teady h im s el f
The s w ee t an d une x p ec ted r evel ati on ha d so
dazzled and c onfu s ed him that a d o zen time s h e
wa s o n th e poi nt of s eiz ing tho s e l i ttle b rown
—
h and s an d telling h e r all all ; b ut there wa s
alway s the qu i c k res training remem b ra nc e o f h e r
y o uth o f h i s tru s t an d th e pl an h e had impo s ed
u pon h im s el f the only p lan th at s eemed t o him
honora b le an d fai r The eff o r t f o r s el f c o n trol
wa s so great th at un c on s ciou s ly hi s manne r b e
c am e matte r o f fa c t to the point of c ol dne ss
Sh e sat j u s t a b ove him on one of the r ock s
th at s u rrounded the S p ri ng Th ere w as so me
th ing di s tant an d p rou d i n he r attitude b ut the
dark s lum b rou s eye s we re full of a s h rinki ng
p ai n th at s mote h im afr es h Thi s w as diff ere nt
Dea r chi l d ! I n th e a rtle ss ne ss o f he r y o uth s he
h ad r evealed th e h i dden p l a c e s o f he r h e a rt an d
thought th at h e di d n ot c a re Len l ea ne d b a c k
again s t th e hil l an d though t a m o m e n t b efo r e
s p e aki n g
”
I m goin to te ll yo u a l i ttl e s to ry h e b ega n
”
B ut I am n ot l on ge r a l i ttl e c hil d sh e i n
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te rru pte d
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A g r eat ten der n e ss c r ept i nt o h is ey es
30 8
.
A
S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
I kn o w he s a i d i n the gen tle st v oic e s he h ad
“
eve r hea r d b u t th i s i s a migh ty good s to ry f o r
real growed u ps too eve n i f i t i s a b ou t a l i ttle
bo y Y ou se e he w as p retty b ad i n l o t s of ways ;
he h adn t be e n l ear nt ve ry well a n d he h adn t
b ee n mu c h to sc ho o l an d h i s fathe r an d mo the r
wa s b oth dead so he kind 0 d ri f ted i n t o doi n
thing s th at h e ough t t o h ave f o ught Sh y o f B ut
he wa s n t al l b ad I gue ss th e Almigh ty kep t H i s
eye on h im a fte r all f o r one d ay he saw a fl o we r
ga rden an d hi s h ea r t wa s aw f u l tou c hed I t wa s
i n the s p ri ng a n d the ro s e s wa s j u s t b u ddi n a n d
the l il ie s whi te a s that S pe c k o c l o u d u p the r e
w as j u s t be gi nni n to u n f old a n d the re wa s l i ttle
sweet sme l l i n violet s th at on e c oul dn t s ee at al l
b ut the bo y kn o wed they wa s th e re an d they
s eemed t o p r omi se som e th i n th at o nly m ade hi s
longi n wo rs e
“
How the l ittle boy di d want th at ga r de n ! H e
knowed he di dn t de s e rve i t fo r a s I s ai d b e
f o r e he h adn t be e n ve ry good bu t he f el t a s i f
all h i s b ad ness w o ul d ju s t hi t the tr ail f o reve r
i f h e co ul d ju s t h ave al l them s weet s p r i n g b ud s
f o r hi s ve ry ve ry ow n Th e n s om e thi n g S poke
to him I t wa s a n aw f ul li ttl e v oice a n d st il l i t
”
“
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309
N A YA
th e m os t p o w erf u l th i n g th e b oy h ad ev e r
hea r d Y o u mu s t wai t til l i t s s umme r i t s aid
that ll give you time to w o rk and be mo r e d e
s e rvin an d then th e li ttle bu ds l l all b e l o v e ly
flowe rs and perh ap s you c an h ave em
Th e b o y w as awful sad ; it w as a l o ng time till
s ummer and he saw he wa s g o i n to b e aw f ul
—
lone so me ; b u t he w as te r r i b le b rave I ll s ay th at
—
f o r him an d he made u p hi s mi n d to wo rk l i ke
the ve ry o l d H a r ry and try h a rd to be de se rv i n
an d then may b e th e b eauti ful flowe r ga r den
w o ul d b e h i s a fte r all Th at s not the en d of th e
s to ry b u t that s all I m goi n to tell you now
Le n c lo s ed h i s eyes an d l ay s till again st the
h ill s i de H e h ad not the co u rage t o look at he r
j u s t then Ther e w as a long S i len c e ; th e n s he
s ai d tr e mulou s ly
“
—
I t i s a b eauti f ul s to ry Le nni e b u t b ut p er
hap s the ga rden i s not s o lovely as th e b oy
”
th i n ks
”
“
Ye s
a ns w ere d Len s h ortly st ill keep in g
h i s eyes c l ose d
”
“
Perh ap s by th e s umme r tim e
s he h al f
“
b reathed and then S he r os e
I though t I saw
”
som e o ne ri di ng on th at fa r hill
w as
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3 10
C HA PT E R ! V I
Ye t
t o l eep
S
a l ittl e s l eep
,
l itt l e sl u m be r
a
,
a
l itt l e fol di ng o f
Pr ov e rbs,
.
a
th e h n ds
vi :10
.
They m o un te d and r ode on th rough th e hill s
who s e great p a rched S houl de r s s wam dizzily in
the mi dday su n B ut the en c h anted fountain
h ad agai n touched them wi th i ts s p ray s uffu s ing
them wi th a s oft h ap pi ne ss th at wa s u n min dful
o f eve ryth i n g e xc ept i ts own magi c b eauty O n ce
he c augh t the s p a rkle o f her gl an c e a n d the j oy
an d th r ill o f i t made him think of h i s o w n l it tl e
S t o ry I t w as l ike S p ring trem b li ng on the ve rge
o f s umme r And on c e he s mi led in to he r eye s
wi th an ex p re ss ion so g r av e an d r e s t r ain i ng a n d
yet so beauti ful i n i ts love that th e memo ry of i t
s tayed wi th N aya as long a s s he l ived O th e r
wi s e the s u cc eedi ng hou r s we r e p a sse d in th e
imp erso nal f a s hion th a t had always c ha r acte r
i z e d th e i r f o rmer ri de s
They r anged h aph az
a rd a cr o ss the hill s sc ann i ng the h o ri z o n a n d ex
am i ni ng every po c ket an d draw b u t there wa s
n o S ign o f the s traying ho r s e s A s they were
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3 12
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
trave rs in g a d ee p roc ky gu l c h L e n di s m o u nted
to ex tra c t a pe bb le f ro m C o m e t s fo o t
“
I f ou n d so me m i gh ty p re t ty m oss aga tes ri gh t
”
a ro u n d here o ne day h e s ai d di ggi ng at the
“
clogged h o o f w i th h i s po c ket kn i f e
They
we r e c lea r a s c ry st al an d f u ll of l i ttle bla c k fe r ny
”
th ing s
N aya w h o sat o n F e hta wa tc h i ng him
se a rc he d th e gr o u n d wi th eage r eyes Sh e wa s
—
—
a b out t o s peak when pi ng a b ullet ju s t
g r azed L en s s houl de r
The ho rs e s s no rted
an d wheeli ng p l unged u p th e s teep h ill s i de
”
“
! ui c k N aya ove r the h i ll s ai d L en mak
i ng a da s h at C om e t an d l an di n g i n th e s addle
wi th one agi le leap
—
Tw o th r e e m o r e bulle ts p l o w e d th e e a rt h
a r o u n d th e m The t e rrified h o rs e s findi n g the
a sc ent too steep t or e di agon ally t owa rd the
c re s t o f th e h ill L en f o r ced C ome t to cro wd
i n th e rea r hop ing to s h iel d N aya b u t h i s e ye s
neve r le f t a group o f b o ul de rs o n th e f a r si de o f
th e gul c h H i s p i s tol wa s a t the r eady b u t he
wa s waiting Someth in g t ou c hed h i s s i d e ; i t
w as l i ke a d r op o f sc al d in g wa te r
H e on l y s a t
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3 13
N AYA
th e str a i gh ter ; th en a s udden gl e am of recogni
ti o n s hot a cross h i s fa ce and he fi re d
“
”
I go t y o u th at tim e yo u sne ak i n wh e lp , h e
mutte re d
The ne x t i ns ta n t they w e re r a cin g d own th e
o ther s i d e of th e hill
”
“
Why who wa s it ? c all e d N aya s v oice ab o ve
the c l atte r of hoo fs
H e r eye s wer e w i d e m o re wi th a s to nis hm en t
th an f r i ght fo r i t had all h ap pe ne d so a b r u ptly
—
an d in l ess th an tw o m inu te s th e hot l anguid
day bro ken b y a s udd e n wil d tumul t o f p i s to l
S ho ts an d plunging ho rs e s
She f e lt s tu n n e d
Len s wayed a l i ttl e and g r a s ped the s addle ho rn
”
“
Y o u a r e hu r t ! Sh e e xc l aim e d h er v o i ce v i
b rati ng wi th fe a r
Th e h orses w ere s l a c ke n i n g th ei r s p ee d a n d
l oo k in g ab o u t wo n deri n gly a s i f t h e y too
wa n te d to kn ow so m eth i ng a bo u t it
”
“
“
J u s t a l itt l e qu eer i n my h e ad h e s a i d I l l
”
j u s t get y o u h o m e an d co m e b a c k
H e fe l t a m o m en t s th a n k f u l ne s s th a t th e
w o u n d e d S i de wa s tu rne d f ro m h er ; th en h e con
ce ntra te d h is wh o l e a t ten ti on on k e ep in g h i s
b r a in ste ady Th e h i ll s da nce d a n d a deadly
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3 14
N A YA
Sh e re m e m b e re d he r whi te petti co at and s li p
p ing i t o ff b ound afte r a fa s hion the p o o r bleed
ing S ide N o no he w as not d e ad ! She f el t
—
again f o r hi s hea rt b eat f ain t yet di s tin c t ! B ut
the re w as no wate r O f c ou r s e that wa s the
th ing to m ake h im O pen h i s eye s and s peak again
S he mu s t fly t o the ran c h on F eh ta and h ave them
—
go f o r the do c to r and b ring th e wagon b ut
where w as he ? Sh e r o s e and lo o k e d a bo ut i n a
p anic o f di s may
”
“
Pe h ta ! Pe h ta ! S he c r i e d b ut the m i le s
upon mi l es o f b u rn i ng hot hill s gave b a c k no
an s w e r
L en s ti rr ed and opening h i s eye s gazed at h er
i n daz e d wonde r Then he r emem b ered
”
G o home i n s tantly
he commanded a
“
s trange f righ t ri nging th rough h i s voi c e Pe r
h ap s I di dn t get
And then he fainted agai n
F o rtunately he h ad f allen on s ome s o f t tu rf
i n th e s h ade of a b l u ff H i s feet were s till i n
the s un b ut the kin d cool ing s h adow wa s s lowly
travel ing downwa rd
L eave h im indeed ! I t wa s mile s to the ranch
bu t Wh at s h o u l d s he do He m u st h ave help !
She fell u pon her knee s b e s i de him in an agony
,
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3 16
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N CO U N T RY
of grie f an d in de c i s ion H o w hot h i s f o r eh e ad !
S u r e ly th ere w as wate r so mewhe r e a bo ut She
t o ok up hi s h at an d ran a roun d the b luff an d
d o w n i nt o s ome of th e gull ie s th at radi ated f rom
i t s b a s e D ry all d ry ! H e r hea rt w as b u r s t
i ng an d th e s o bs c ame so f a s t th at they almo s t
s uff o c ate d her ; b ut S he mu s t not give w ay She
mu s t o nly th i nk th i n k wh at to do Th e n sh e
—
gav e a l ittle c ry o f r el i ef he re wa s wate r o nly
a str ing o f b ra c ki s h pool s b u t wat e r j u s t the
s am e She c aught a h at f ull an d hu rried b a c k
Cri ste coom ! The re h e wa s s i tting u p a n d t alk
i ng an d s i nging The b lood agai n !
“
”
L ennie L ennie l ie agai n s he p lead e d a n d
forc ed h im b a c k u p o n the g ro u n d
H e s miled at the tou c h o f th e coo l wa ter b ut
all the time s he wa s wo rk i ng ove r h im he mut
te re d o r c h attered s h rilly of s u c h a mul ti tude of
thi ng s an d wi th s uch rap i d i n c ohe ren c e that sh e
c aught only an o cc a s ion al wo rd o r ph ra s e No w
i t wa s of th e range a n d s ome o f hi s co m rade s
now o f the r a nc h a n d s ometime s h e s eemed to
i magine him s el f a l ittle b oy agai n i n the M a ss a
“
ch u se tts O rpha n A s ylum
Wi ggy you d
”
l i ttle f ool he s ai d on c e aff e c tion ately and th e n
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3 17
N A YA
hu s kily I ll fix y o u you Poi son S p id er s ne ak
I t w as u s el ess t o t ry t o qui e t him H e di d not
see m t o ev e n hea r h e r
L i ttl e l aughing s ta r h ow ti r e d s he mu s t be
—
—
No t l o ng Dougal Y es the s p r ing th e n s um
me r ! Wh at di d he say N eve r ?
H e th und ere d th e l a s t w o rd an d s at b ol t u p
righ t wi th a lo o k of te r ri b l e defi ance o n hi s
fl u s hed f a ce
”
I wi ll kil l yo u i f you s ay N eve r agai n !
N aya wi th th e s trength b o rn o f te rro r f orced
h im d o w n H e s eemed to f all i nto a s ort o f
s tup o r an d s he S ped f o r anothe r h at full of
water When sh e retu r ned he l ay wa tc hi ng fo r
h e r The re wa s s omething i n fi n i tely rem o te an d
sa d i n th e c lea r hazel ey es
”
Y ou a re b etter S he s ai d a sof t t en de rnes s
over s p reading he r s t r ained wh ite f a c e
”
“
Y e s he an s wered qui e tly
”
“
The h o r s e s went on home sh e e x pl ained
”
“
Soon they come f o r u s I c oul d not leave you
“
”
“
I m gl ad h e retu rned
I t s awful s elfi s h
mayb e b ut I m gl ad you ll b e h ere at th e l a st
”
the ve ry l a s t
H i s b roken w o rd s frightened her
“
”
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“
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3 18
N A YA
s h adow s we re gathering i n the h o ll o w s and the
b i rd s we re al ready c hanting thei r mel ancholy
even s ong The I ndi an c hil d sat motionle ss by
h e r dead the great dark eye s s ta ring and tragi c
A few h o u r s l ate r they f ound them an d took
them h o me
—
The m an from Poi s on S p i de r C reek not my
”
—
people n o t th e B l a c k f e e t w as what sh e tol d
them
Two month s l ate r the mu rde re r wa s f ound
H i s death woun d h ad left h im only s trength
enough to S link into the B ad L and s where h e
h ad died a p r ey to th e wolve s an d vul tu re s
”
“
Watchman wh at o f the n ight ?
Wa s i t the
s ame fo r the s e tw o ?
A rough b ier c overed w i th s plendi d ro bes wa s
a r r anged i n the S itting room an d the r e they
l ai d h im the b rave dead b oy The e x p re ss io n
on hi s f ace wa s rap t a s o f one w h o l i s ten s Wa s
i t th e s ong o f N aya s wa t er f al l th at he heard ?
She knew
Wiggy s at b y h i s f riend weeping l ike a c hild
N aya c rept i n s o f tly an d l ai d he r h an d on h i s
s houl de r
”
“
I w o ul d put thi s
.
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32 0
.
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N T RY
”
“
Wh a t i s i t ?
”
C om e t s b r i dl e Len s o l o ved h i m
Wiggy pu t h i s h e ad o n the edge o f the bie r
an d s o bb ed anew With a n e x qui s ite ten de rne ss
N aya p la c ed the b ri dle i n the y o ung c ow pun
c h er s c ol d h an d an d the n p au s e d i r r e s olute N 0
Sh e h a d h a d him qu i t e al o ne tho s e many h o u r s
and now s h e mu s t le ave him to hi s f ri end s
Wi ggy lo o ked u p an d w as filled with awe
whe n h e saw the c h anged grie f S tri c ken fa c e
Whe r e w as t h e b ri lli an t l augh i ng c hi l d of a
m o nth ago ?
Th e f ol low in g day th e y bu rie d h i m u n d er a
cli ff n ea r th e riv e r
”
“
I t f a ces t o the so uth s a i d N aya wh o c ho se
“
th e s p ot
I n the M oo n o f Wi nd s when al l i s
”
b a re an d col d i t i s l ike a g o l den c a rp e t
The f ol low i ng i n sc ri p tio n w as ru d e ly c h ise l e d
o n the f a c e o f th e c l i ff :
?
Wat ch man w h at f th e nigh t
“
’
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-
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“
o
,
L
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D
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”
1 88
F a r below the r i ve r r olled n ois e l e ss l y towa rd
the di s tan t s ea an d on b eyon d were th e b luff s
an d pl ain s whi c h woul d ring no m ore with hi s
gay l augh a n d gaye r s ong
,
.
32 1
NAYA
Th e night b efo r e Willi am h ad i nj u re d hi s
ankl e again a n d w as una b l e t o go and mo s t of
L en s f rien d s were o u t o n the r a n ge o r at o ne
of th e o the r r a nc h es ; b u t there we re lovi ng l it
tle Wiggy and S p ani s h Pi c o and O l d T o m an d
A rthu r b e s ide s the hoa r d o f little C a rv e r s an d
H annah c l inging tightly to N ay a s h an d
I n th e mo rni ng A rthu r taugh t the b o ys a
f ragme n t o f an E pi sc op al hym n he u s ed to S ing
i n th e l i ttle C li fd ale c hu r c h I t s eemed t o him
the re o ugh t t o b e s ome s o rt of re l igi o u s cere
mo n y
N w th e d y i ov er
N igh t is d ra wi g igh ;
S h a do ws o f th e v e n ing
S t l c o s th e ky ;
J e u gi v e th e w ea y
d w et re po se ;
C lm
W it h Th y t der st b l es i ng
M ay
y e l i ds clo s
Th a t w as all he co ul d rem e mb er so they were
to S ing it twi c e b ut on e b y o ne the voi c e s choke d
an d cea s ed an d only O l d T o m s b rave qu ave r
w as le f t fo r th e l a s t l ine
When they we r e lowe r i n g th e rough wo od en
bo x Arthu r s ai d an x iou s ly
“
There S houl d b e a l ittl e p raye r You M r s
”
Wa rren
,
,
’
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“
o
s
a
n
n
e
a r
ea
s
s
s s,
r
an
a
s
e
en
s
e
our e
e
”
.
,
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’
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,
.
C HA PT ER ! V I I
L
ife h a th mo re a we th a
n
d
ea th
.
Ba rt e r
Fa
A
r w ll !
w o r d tha t m st b e
d h t h b ee
s u d w h ich m k es l i g r ;
y et—f rew ll
e
o
e
A
an
a
u
es s“
.
,
n
n
a
-
—F t
a
us
—Ch i ld
n e
e
BYRO N
e
H a r ol d s Pi lg ri ma
’
g
e
.
The d aw n gl o w wa s fadi ng a n d th e c l o u d s
h o ve ring d reamily a bo ut th e mountai n peaks
s uddenly s tream e d and fla s h e d l ike gol den b an
n er s B ro ad b el ts o f s unlight s l anted a c ro ss th e
pl ain a n d the ai r w as full of th e s ti rri ng s an d
so ngs th at b et o ken the b i rth o f ano ther day
N aya sat on F ehta wat c hi ng Two week s h ad
p a ss ed S in c e L en s death and thi s wa s the mo rn
ing o f thei r dep artu re They had al ready s ai d
good by at the ran c h The S pe c k o f du s t f a r i n
advan c e wa s the b u c k bo a r d b ea r ing tho s e who
were to a cc omp any he r on the long jou r ney to
E ngl a n d
She h ad tol d them S he woul d c at c h
them an d they h ad driven on an d le f t h er
,
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-
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324
A S T ORY O F TH E BIG H OR N C O U N TRY
Th er e w i n ding am on g th e r oll in g h i ll s
w as Th e R oa d wh ic h S he too mu s t fo ll o w i n a
f ew m i nute s Wh ith e r di d i t l e ad ? So i t w as
true th e bo ok talk abou t g r eat s ea s a n d g r eat
c i tie s an d s t r ange p eop le s p e ak in g i n str ange
tongue s
F a ces
i n di s tin c t y et s ig n ifi c ant
c r o wded abou t h e r i n c on f u s ion D i d they awai t
he r i n that n ew l i f e ? Sh e s at motionle ss s ti r red
by my s t ic vi s io ns S he s eemed t o b e w avi ng an
e ter n al f a r ewel l to so me o ne wh o s t oo d on the
dim s h o re o f an o the r exi s ten c e
S uddenly all u nbi dden the re c am e a n ove r
whelming remem b r an c e o f h er s el f as sh e h ad
b een a yea r ago the day he r f athe r c ame f rom
E ngl an d th e day sh e l aughed at the antic s of the
p ra i rie dog s an d heaped th e h o u se wi th fl o we r s
A wo rl d yawned between he r a n d tha t N aya
O h the r u s h o f h ap p i ne ss an d th e t r agic b i tte r
ending o f i t al l ! Wa s th i s the mean i ng of l i f e
the thing sh e h ad read a b out ? Wa s i t j u s t a c on
—
f u s ed mi n gl in g of j o y a n d so rro w a n d th en th e
n i gh t ?
Sh e d ri f ted f a r th er a n d f a rth er away on th at
s p i ri t se a where s t r a n ge voi c e s S ing i n th r i ll i ng
h a r m on y o f s truggle s an d so rrow s an d ete rn al
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3 25
l o v e a n d wh e re a D ivi n e H a n d h o ld s forth th e
F laming Swo r d of L i f e Li fe ! The s en s e of
i ts b eauty a n d i ts te r ro r s udde n ly s wept he r l ike
a temp es t ! Th e r e wa s an e xultant leap o f he r
whole b eing the n i t di e d away and wi th s tr e am
i ng eye s sh e gazed a b out i n a p a ss io n o f f a r e
well B e auti ful m o th e r m o re be auti ful th an
th e dawn s ta r when th e s ky i s l ik e wil d r os e s
fol d he r c lo s e to you r great pea c e f ul h e a rt dea r
m o un tai n s f o r N aya c ome s no m o re A n d he
who lie s s ile n t b y the wi ndi ng r ive r ; he wh os e
gentl e han d a n d b rave s p i rit h ad l ed he r to th e
p o rtal s of love a n d j o y only t o l e av e h e r s ta n d
in g ther e alo n e Alo ne !
”
G ood by L ennie s he whi s p e r e d b r avely
“
”
G ood by
The n s h e s o ugh t Th e R o ad a n d jou rn eyed o n
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