THE RANGER BACK TO HIS ALLEGIANCE.—STRONG
hear nothing from my men. What could this mean ? It was her hand that was laid across my mouth ; it was her voice, with even something of the usual levity which had so much astonished me in it toward the last, that had soothingly urged me to be still, and trust to finding all right soon! She, then, was not a prisoner ! What could it mean ?
The same impulse which led me to obey and trust her at that time, without knowing why, now moved me to renewed confidence, since' I had fully thought over every thing, and reviewed all the circumstances. I felt a sure conviction that I might rely upon her faith, honor, and gratitude, mysterious as the present circumstances were, and great as might be the difficulty of seeing my way through them.
I could not but believe that, though she might now be free, and even riding by my side—of which I had no sort of evidence worth any thing—and had done nothing apparent for our rescue, yet, when the time came, she would act at any risk.
It was possible that, though these savages might know and respect her person, still she had not, at present, any power over them; but that she believed the opportunity would soon occur when she would be able, at least, to prevent any very serious mischief from coming to us, I had too great confidence in her honor and affection to doubt.
I had looked into her clear eye with too much earnestness, and felt too surely the frank, though willful daring of her spirit, to permit, for a sober moment, the shadow of a suspicion of the truth of the words she had spoken when I awoke.
She desert her long-lost and new-found brother! She betray Old Hicks and myself, who had rescued her at so great peril from enemies she evidently feared, and hated with a deadly fear and hate! I had as soon suspected my own soul of being capable of perjury!
To feel so required strong faith enough, under such circum-