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CHAPTER VII
RED FEATHER
One bright warm afternoon in October two years later； Brick Willock
sat smoking his pipe before the open door of his dugout； taking advantage
of the mountain…shadow that had just reached that spot。 In repose； he
always sat； when in the cove； with his face toward the natural roadway
leading over the flat hill…island into the farther reach of the horseshoe。 It
was thus he hoped to prevent surprise from inimical horsemen； and it was
thus that； on this particular afternoon； he detected a shadow creeping over
the reddish…brown stone passage before its producing cause rode suddenly
against the background of the blue sky。
At first glimpse of that shadow of a feathered head； Willock flung
himself down the dirt steps leading to the open door； now； lying flat； he
directed the barrel of his gun over the edge of the level ground； covering
an approaching horseman。 As only one Indian came into view； and as this
Indian was armed in a manner as astounding as it was irresistible； Willock
rose to his height of six…foot…three； lowered his weapon； and advanced to
meet him。
When he was near； the Indianthe same chief from whom Willock had
fled on the day of his intended housewarmingthis Indian sprang lightly
to the ground； and lifted from the horse that defense which he had borne in
front of him on penetrating the cove； it was the child for whose sake
Willock had separated himself from his kind。
At first； Willock thought he was dreaming one of those dreams that
had solaced his half…waking hours； for he had often imagined how it
would be if that child were in the mountains to bear him company。 But
however doubtful he might he regarding her； he took no chances about the
Indian； but kept his alert gaze fixed on him to forestall any design of
treachery。
The Indian made a sign to the little girl to remain with the horse； then
he glided forward； holding somewhat ostentatiously； a filled pipe in his
extended hand。 He had evidently come to knit his soul to that of his white
brother while the smoke from their pipes mingled on the quiet air； forming
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a frail and uncertain monument to the spirit of peace。
〃Was it you that left a pipe and tobacco on my stove two years ago？〃
Willock asked abruptly。
〃Yes。 You got it？ We will smoke。〃 He seated himself gravely on the
ground。
Willock went into the cabin； and brought out the clay pipe。 They
smoked。 Willock cast covert glances toward the girl。 She stood slim and
straight； her face rigid； her eyes fixed on the horse whose halter she held。
Her limbs were bare and a blanket that descended to her knees seemed her
only garment。 The face of the sleeping child of five was the same；
however； as this of the seven…year…old maid； except that it had grown more
beautiful； the wealth of glowing brown hair made amends for all poverty
of attire。
Willock was wonderfully moved； so much so that his manner was
harsh； his voice gruff in the extreme。 〃What are you going to do with that
girl？〃 he demanded。
〃You take her？〃 inquired the chief passively。
〃YesI take her。〃
〃Good！〃 The Indian smoked serenely。
〃Where'd you find her？〃
〃Not been lost。 Her safe all time。 Sometime in one villagehere； then
there； two； threemove her about。 Safe all time。 I never forget。 There she
is。 You take her？〃
〃I said so； didn't I？ Where's her daddy？〃
The Indian said nothing； only smoked； his eyes fixed on space。
Willock raised his voice。 〃Must I ask HER where he is？〃
〃Her not know。 Her not seen him one； two year。 She say him dead。〃
〃Oh； he's dead； is he？〃
〃Him safe； too。〃 He looked at the sun。 〃Long trail before me。 Then I
leave her。 I go； now。〃
〃Not much you don't go！ Not THIS minute。 Where is that girl's
daddy？〃
No answer。
〃If he's safe； why hasn't she been with him all this time？〃
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〃Me big chief。〃
〃Oh； yes； I judge you are。 But that's nothing to me。 I'm big chief； too。 I
own this corner of the universeand I want to know about that girl's
daddy。〃
〃Him great man。〃
〃Wellgo ahead； tell the rest of it。〃
〃Him settle among my tribe； him never leave our country。 'Big country；
fat country； very rich。 Him change nameeverything； him one of us。
Marry my daughter。 THAT girl not his daughterdaughter of dead woman。
Keep her away from him all time； so him never see white man； white
woman； white child； forget white people； be good Indian。 The girl make
him think of dead woman。 When a man marry again； not good to
remember dead woman。 Him think girl dead； but no care； no worry； no sad。
SHE never his daughterdead woman's daughter。 All his path is white； no
more blue。 Him very glad； every daymy daughter his wife。 She keep
scalp…knife from his head。 My braves capturethey dance about fire； she
say 'No。' She marry him。 Their path is white； the sky over them is white。〃
He rose； straight as an arrow； and turned his grim face toward the
horse。
〃I see。 And you don't want to tell me where he is； because you want
him to forget he is a white man？〃
〃Him always live with my people； him marry my daughter。〃
〃Tell me this； is he far away？〃
〃Very far。 Many days。 You never find him。 You stay here； keep girl；
and me and my people your friends。 You come after himnot your
friends！〃
〃Why； bless your heart； I never want to see that man again； your
daughter is welcome to him； but I'm afraid she's got a bad bargain。 This
girl's just as I'd have herunencumbered。 I'm AWFUL glad you come；
pardner！ Whenever you happen to be down in this part of Texas； drop in
and make us a visit！〃
With every passing moment； Willock was realizing more keenly what
this amazing sequel to the past meant to him。 He would not only have
company in his dreary solitude； but； of all company； the very one he
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yearned for to comfort his heart。 〃Give us your paw； old manshake。 You
bet I'll take her！〃
He strode forward and addressed the girl： 〃Are you willing to stay with
me； little one？〃
She shrank back from the wild figure。 During his two years of hiding
in the mountains； Willock had cared nothing for his personal appearance。
His garments； on disintegrating had been replaced by skins； thus giving an
aspect of assorted colors and materials rather remarkable。 Only when
driven by necessity had he ventured on long journeys to the nearest food…
station； carrying the skins obtained by trapping； and bringing back fresh
stores of provisions and tobacco on the pony purchased by the Spanish
gold。
Willock was greatly disconcerted by her attitude。 He said regretfully；
〃I guess I've been so much with myself that I ain't noticed my outside as a
man ought。 Won't you make your home with me； child？〃 He held out his
rough hand appealingly。
She retreated farther； saying with disapproval； 〃Much hair！〃
Willock laid his hand on his breast； returning； 〃Much heart！〃
〃Him white；〃 said the Indian； swinging himself upon his horse。 〃Him
save your life。 Sometime me come visit； come eat； come stay with you。〃
As he wheeled about； she held out her arms toward him； crying wildly；
〃Don't go！ Don't leave me！ Him much hair！〃
The Indian dashed away without turning his head。
〃Good lord； honey；〃 exclaimed Willock； at his wits' ends； 〃don't cry！ I
can't do nothing if you CRY。 Won't you come look at your new home？〃 He
waved eagerly toward the dugout。
〃Hole in the ground！〃 cried the girl desperately。 〃I want my tepee。 Am
I a prairie…dog？〃
〃No； honey； you ain't。 You and me is both white； and we ought to live
together； it ain't right for you to live with red people that kills and burns
your own kith and kin。〃
She looked at him repellently through her streaming