aggressive,andwhollyinconsistentpolicy.Elijah,whostillretainedtheimitativesenseandadaptabilitytosurroundingswhichbelongtomostlazy,impressiblenatures,andinstripedyellowandvermilionfeatureslookedthechiefhepersonated,mettheagentwithsilentandbecominggravity.Thecouncilwascarriedonbysigns.NeverbeforehadanIndiantreatybeenenteredintowithsuchperfectknowledgeoftheintentionsanddesignsofthewhitesbytheIndians,andsuchprofoundignoranceofthequalitiesoftheIndiansbythewhites.ItneedscarcelybesaidthatthetreatywasanunquestionableIndiansuccess.Theydidnotgiveuptheirarablelands;whattheydidselltotheagenttheyrefusedtoexchangeforextravagant-pricedshoddyblankets,worthlessguns,damppowder,andmouldymeal.Theytookpayindollars,andwerethusenabledtoopenmoreprofitablecommercewiththetradersatthesettlementsforbettergoodsandbetterbargains;theysimplydeclinedbeads,whiskey,andBiblesatanyprice.Theresultwasthatthetradersfounditprofitabletoprotectthemfromtheircountrymen,andthechancesofwantonlyshootingdownapossiblevaluablecustomerstoppedtheoldindiscriminaterifle-practice.
TheIndianswereallowedtocultivatetheirfieldsinpeace.
Elijahpurchasedforthemafewagriculturalimplements.Thecatching,curing,andsmokingofsalmonbecameanimportantbranchoftrade.Theywaxedprosperousandrich;theylosttheirnomadichabits——acentralizedsettlementbearingtheexternalsignsofanIndianvillagetooktheplaceoftheiroldtemporaryencampments,butthehutswereinternallyanimprovementontheoldwigwams.
Thedriedfishwerebanishedfromthetent-polestolongshedsespeciallyconstructedforthatpurpose.Thesweat-housewasnolongerutilizedforworldlypurposes.ThewiseandmightyElijahdidnotattempttoreformtheirreligion,buttopreserveitinitsintegrity.
Thattheseimprovementsandchangeswereduetotheinfluenceofonemanwasundoubtedlytrue,butthathewasnecessarilyasuperiormandidnotfollow.Elijah\'ssuccesswasduepartlytothefactthathehadbeenenabledtoimpresscertainnegativevirtues,whichwerepartofhisownnature,uponacommunityequallyconstitutedtoreceivethem.Eachwasstrengthenedbytherecognitionineachotheroftheunexpectedvalueofthosequalities;eachacquiredaconfidencebegottenoftheirsuccess.
\"He-hides-his-face,\"asElijahMartinwasknowntothetribeaftertheepisodeofthereleasedcaptives,wasreallynotsomuchofanautocratasmanyconstitutionalrulers.
Twoyearsoftranquilprosperitypassed.ElijahMartin,foundling,outcast,withoutcivilizedtiesorrelationshipofanykind,forgottenbyhiscountrymen,andliftedintoalienpower,wealth,security,andrespect,became——homesick!
Itwasnearthecloseofasummerafternoon.Hewassittingatthedoorofhislodge,whichoverlooked,ononeside,thefar-shininglevelsofthePacificand,ontheother,theslowdescenttothecultivatedmeadowsandbanksoftheMinyoRiver,thatdebouchedthroughawasteofsalt-marsh,beach-grass,sand-dunes,andfoamyestuaryintotheocean.Theheadland,orpromontory——theonlyeminenceoftheMinyoterritory——hadbeenreservedbyhimforhislodge,partlyonaccountofitsisolationfromthevillageatitsbase,andpartlyfortheviewitcommandedofhisterritory.Yethiswearyinganddiscontentedeyesweremoreoftenfoundontheocean,asapossiblehighwayofescapefromhisirksomeposition,thanontheplainandthedistantrangeofmountains,socloselyconnectedwiththenearerpastandhisformerdetractors.Inhisvaguelonginghehadnodesiretoreturntothem,evenintriumphinhispresentsecuritytherestilllingeredadoubtofhisabilitytocopewiththeoldconditions.Itwasmorelikehiseasy,indolentnature——whichrevivedinhisprosperity——totrusttothisleastpracticalandremotesolutionofhistrouble.Hishomesicknesswasasvagueashisplanforescapefromit;hedidnotknowexactlywhatheregretted,butitwasprobablysomelifehehadnotenjoyed,somepleasurethathadescapedhisformerincompetencyandpoverty.
Hehadsatthusahundredtimes,asaimlesslyblinkingatthevastpossibilitiesoftheshiningseabeyond,turninghisbackuponthenearerandmorepracticablemountains,lulledbythefar-offbeatingofmonotonousrollers,thelonelycryofthecurlewandplover,thedrowsychangesofalternatebreathsofcool,fragrantreedsandwarm,spicysandsthatblewacrosshiseyelids,andsuccumbedtosleep,ashehaddoneahundredtimesbefore.Thenarrowstripsofcoloredcloth,insigniaofhisdignity,flappedlazilyfromhistent-poles,andatlastseemedtoslumberwithhim;
theshadowsoftheleaf-tracerythrownbythebay-tree,onthegroundathisfeet,scarcelychangeditspattern.Nothingmovedbuttheround,restless,berry-likeeyesofWachita,hischild-
wife,theformerheroineoftheincidentwiththecaptivepackers,whosatnearherlord,armedwithawillowwand,watchfulofintrudingwasps,sand-flies,andeventhemoreostentatiousadvancesofarotundandclerical-lookinghumble-bee,withhismonotonoushomily.Content,dumb,submissive,vacant,atsuchtimes,Wachita,debarredherhusband\'sconfidencesthroughthenativecustomsandhisownindifferenttaciturnity,satisfiedherselfbygazingathimwiththewonderingbutineffectualsympathyofafaithfuldog.
UnfortunatelyforElijahherpurelymechanicalministrationcouldnotpreventamoredangerousintrusionuponhissecurity.
Heawokewithalightstart,andeyesthatgraduallyfixeduponthewomanalookofreturningconsciousness.Wachitapointedtimidlytothevillagebelow.
\"TheMessengeroftheGreatWhiteFatherhascometo-day,withhiswagonsandhorses;hewouldseethechiefoftheMinyos,butI
wouldnotdisturbmylord.\"
Elijah\'sbrowcontracted.Relievedofitscharacteristicmetaphor,heknewthatthismeantthatthenewIndianagenthadmadehisusualofficialvisit,andhadexhibitedtheusualanxietytoseethefamouschieftain.
\"Good!\"hesaid.\"WhiteRabbit[hislieutenant]willseetheMessengerandexchangegifts.Itisenough.\"
\"Thewhitemessengerhasbroughthiswangee[white]womanwithhim.
Theywouldlookuponthefaceofhimwhohidesit,\"continuedWachita,dubiously.\"TheywouldthatWachitashouldbringthemnearertowheremylordis,thattheymightseehimwhenheknewitnot.\"
Elijahglancedmoodilyathiswife,withthehalfsuspicionwithwhichhestillregardedheraliencharacter.\"ThenletWachitagobacktothesquawsandoldwomen,andletherhideherselfwiththemuntilthewangeestrangersaregone,\"hesaidcurtly.\"Ihavespoken.Go!\"
Accustomedtotheseabruptdismissals,whichdidnotnecessarilyindicatedispleasure,Wachitadisappearedwithoutaword.Elijah,whohadrisen,remainedforafewmomentsleaningagainstthetent-
poles,gazingabstractedlytowardthesea.Thebeesdroneduninterruptedlyinhisears,thefar-offrollofthebreakerscametohimdistinctly;butsuddenly,withgreaterdistinctness,camethemurmurofawoman\'svoice.
\"Hedon\'tlooksavageabit!Why,he\'srealhandsome.\"
\"Hush!you——\"saidasecondvoice,inafrightenedwhisper.
\"ButifheDIDhearhecouldn\'tunderstand,\"returnedthefirstvoice.Asuppressedgigglefollowed.
Luckily,Elijah\'snaturalandacquiredhabitsofrepressionsuitedtheemergency.Hedidnotmove,althoughhefeltthequickbloodflytohisface,andthevoiceofthefirstspeakerhadsuffusedhimwithastrangeanddeliciousanticipation.Herestrainedhimself,thoughthewordsshehadnaivelydroppedwerefillinghimwithnewandtremuloussuggestion.Hewasmotionless,evenwhilehefeltthatthevaguelongingandyearningwhichhadpossessedhimhithertowasnowmysteriouslytakingsomeunknownformandaction.
Themurmuringceased.Thehumble-bees\'droneagainbecameascendant——asuddenfearseizedhim.ShewasGOING;heshouldneverseeher!Whilehehadstoodthereadoltandsluggard,shehadsatisfiedhercuriosityandstolenaway.Withasuddenyieldingtoimpulse,hedartedquicklyinthedirectionwherehehadheardhervoice.Thethicketmoved,parted,crackled,andrustled,andthenundulatedthirtyfeetbeforehiminalongwave,asiffromthepassageofsomelithe,invisiblefigure.Butatthesamemomentalittlecry,halfofalarm,halfoflaughter,brokefromhisveryfeet,andabentmanzanito-bush,relaxedbyfrightenedfingers,flewbackagainsthisbreast.Thrustingithurriedlyaside,hisstooping,eagerfacecamealmostincontactwiththepink,flushedcheeksandtangledcurlsofawoman\'shead.Hewassonear,hermoistandlaughingeyesalmostdrownedhiseagerglance;
herpartedlipsandwhiteteethweresoclosetohisthatherquickbreathtookawayhisown.
Shehaddroppedononeknee,ashercompanionfled,expectinghewouldoverlookherashepassed,buthisdirectonsethadextractedthefeminineoutcry.Yeteventhenshedidnotseemgreatlyfrightened.
\"It\'sonlyajoke,sir,\"shesaid,coollyliftingherselftoherfeetbygraspinghisarm.\"I\'mMrs.Dall,theIndianagent\'swife.
Theysaidyouwouldn\'tletanybodyseeyou——andIdeterminedI
would.That\'sall!\"Shestopped,threwbackhertangledcurlsbehindherears,shookthebriersandthornsfromherskirt,andadded:\"Well,Ireckonyouaren\'tafraidofawoman,areyou?Sonoharm\'sdone.Good-by!\"
Shedrewslightlybackasiftoretreat,buttheelasticityofthemanzanitoagainstwhichshewasleaningthrewherforwardoncemore.Heagaininhaledtheperfumeofherhair;hesaweventhetinyfrecklesthatdarkenedherupperlipandbroughtoutthemoist,redcurvebelow.Asuddenrecollectionofaplaymateofhisvagabondchildhoodflashedacrosshismind;awildinspirationoflawlessness,begottenofhispastexperience,hissolitude,hisdictatorialpower,andthebeautyofthewomanbeforehim,mountedtohisbrain.Hethrewhisarmspassionatelyaroundher,pressedhislipstohers,andwithahalf-hystericallaughdrewbackanddisappearedinthethicket.
Mrs.Dallremainedforaninstantdazedandstupefied.Thensheliftedherarmmechanically,andwithhersleevewipedherbruisedmouthandtheochre-stainthathispainthadleft,likeblood,uponhercheek.Herlaughingfacehadbecomeinstantlygrave,butnotfromfear;herdarkeyeshadclouded,butnotentirelywithindignation.Shesuddenlybroughtdownherhandsharplyagainsthersidewithagestureofdiscovery.
\"That\'snoInjun!\"shesaid,withpromptdecision.Thenextminutesheplungedbackintothetrailagain,andthedensefoliageoncemoreclosedaroundher.Butasshedidsothebroad,vacantfaceandthemutelywonderingeyesofWachitarose,likeaplacidmoon,betweenthebranchesofatreewheretheyhadbeenhidden,andshoneserenelyandimpassivelyafterher
Amonthelapsed.ButitwasamonthfilledwithmoreexperiencetoElijahthanhispasttwoyearsofexaltation.InthefirstfewdaysfollowinghismeetingwithMrs.Dall,hewaspossessedbyterror,mingledwithflashesofdesperation,attheremembranceofhisrashimprudence.Hisrecollectionofextravagantfrontierchivalrytowomankind,andtheswiftretributionoftheinsultedhusbandorguardian,alternatelyfilledhimwithabjectfearorextravagantrecklessness.Attimespreparedforflight,eventothedesperateabandonmentofhimselfinacanoetothewatersofthePacific:attimeshewasonthepointofincitinghisbravestoattacktheIndianagencyandprecipitatethewarthathefeltwouldbeinevitable.Asthedayspassed,andthereseemedtobenointerruptiontohisfriendlyrelationswiththeagency,withthatreliefanew,subtlejoycreptintoElijah\'sheart.Theimageoftheagent\'swifeframedintheleafyscreenbehindhislodge,theperfumeofherhairandbreathmingledwiththespicingofthebay,thebriefthrillandtantalizationofthestolenkissstillhauntedhim.Throughhislong,shyabstentionfromsociety,andhistwoyearsofsolitaryexile,thefreshbeautyofthisyoungWesternwife,inwhomthefrankartlessnessofgirlhoodstilllingered,appearedtohimlikeasuperiorcreation.Heforgothisvaguelongingsintheinceptionofamoretangiblebutequallyunpracticalpassion.Herememberedherunconsciousandspontaneousadmirationofhim;hedaredtoconnectitwithherforgivingsilence.Ifshehadwithheldherconfidencesfromherhusband,hecouldhope——heknewnotexactlywhat!
OneafternoonWachitaputintohishandafoldednote.Withaninstinctivepresentimentofitscontents,Elijahturnedredandembarrassedinreceivingitfromthewomanwhowasrecognizedashiswife.Buttheimpassive,submissivemannerofthishouseholddrudge,insteadoftouchinghisconscience,seemedtohimavulgarandbrutalacceptanceofthesituationthatdulledwhatevercompunctionhemighthavehad.Heopenedthenoteandreadhurriedlyasfollows:——
\"Youtookagreatfreedomwithmetheotherday,andIamjustifiedintakingonewithyounow.IbelieveyouunderstandEnglishaswellasIdo.Ifyouwanttoexplainthatandyourconducttome,Iwillbeatthesameplacethisafternoon.Myfriendwillaccompanyme,butsheneednothearwhatyouhavetosay.\"
Elijahreadtheletter,whichmighthavebeenwrittenbyanordinaryschool-girl,asifithadconveyedtheveiledrendezvousofaprincess.Thereserve,caution,andshynesswhichhadbeenthesafeguardofhisweaknaturewereswampedinaflowofimmaturepassion.Heflewtotheinterviewwiththeeagernessandinexperienceoffirstlove.Hewascompletelyathermercy.Soutterlywashesubjugatedbyherpresencethatshedidnotevenruntheriskofhispassion.Whateversentimentmighthavemingledwithhercuriosity,shewasneverconsciousofanecessitytoguardherselfagainstit.Atthissecondmeetingshewasinfullpossessionofhissecret.Hehadtoldhereverything;shehadpromisednothinginreturn——shehadnotevenacceptedanything.
Evenheractualafter-relationstothedenouementofhispassionarestillshroudedinmystery.
Nevertheless,Elijahlivedtwoweeksontheunsubstantialmemoryofthismeeting.Whatmighthavefollowedcouldnotbeknown,forattheendofthattimeanoutrage——soatrociousthateventhepeacefulMinyoswerethrilledwithsavageindignation——wascommittedontheoutskirtsofthevillage.Anoldchief,whohadbeenspeciallyselectedtodealwiththeIndianagent,andwhokeptasmalltradingoutpost,hadbeenkilledandhisgoodsdespoiledbyarecklessRedwoodpacker.Themurdererhadcoollysaidthathewasonly\"servingout\"thetoolofafraudulentimpostureontheGovernment,andthathedaredthearch-impostorhimself,theso-
calledMinyochief,tohelphimself.Awaveofungovernablefurysurgeduptotheverytent-polesofElijah\'slodgeanddemandedvengeance.Elijahtrembledandhesitated.InthethraldomofhisselfishpassionforMrs.Dallhedarednotcontemplateacollisionwithhercountrymen.Hewouldhaveagainsoughtrefugeinhispassive,non-committalattitude,butheknewtheimpersonalcharacterofIndianretributionandcompensation——asacrificeofequalvalue,withoutreferencetotheculpabilityofthevictim——
andhedreadedsomespontaneousoutbreak.Topreventtheenforcedexpiationofthecrimebysomeinnocentbrotherpacker,hewasobligedtogiveordersforthepursuitandarrestofthecriminal,secretlyhopingforhisescapeortheinterpositionofsomecircumstancetoaverthispunishment.Adayofsullenexpectancytotheoldmenandsquawsincamp,ofgloomyanxietytoElijahaloneinhislodge,followedthedepartureofthebravesonthewar-path.Itwasmidnightwhentheyreturned.Elijah,whofromhishabitualreserveandtheacceptedetiquetteofhisexaltedstationhadremainedimpassiveinhistent,onlyknewfromthegutturalrejoicingsofthesquawsthattheexpeditionhadbeensuccessfulandthecaptivewasintheirhands.Atanyothertimehemighthavethoughtitanevidenceofsomegrowingscepticismofhisinfallibilityofjudgmentandadiminutionofrespectthattheydidnotconfronthimwiththeirprisoner.Buthewastoogladtoescapefromthedangerofexposureandpossiblearraignmentofhispastlifebythedesperatecaptive,eventhoughitmightnothavebeenunderstoodbythespectators.Hereflectedthattheomissionmighthavearisenfromtheirrecollectionofhispreviousaversiontoaretaliationonotherprisoners.Enoughthattheywouldwaithissignalforthetortureandexecutionatsunrisethenextday.
Thenightpassedslowly.Itismorethanprobablethattheselfishandignobletormentsofthesleeplessandvacillatingjudgeweregreaterthanthoseoftheprisonerwhodozedatthestakebetweenhiscurses.YetitwaspartofElijah\'sfatalweaknessthathiskinderandmorehumaninstinctsweredominatedevenatthatmomentbyhislawlesspassionfortheIndianagent\'swife,andhisindecisionastothefateofhiscaptivewasasmuchduetothispreoccupationastoaselfishconsiderationofherrelationstotheresult.Hehatedtheprisonerforhisinfelicitousanduntimelycrime,yethecouldnotmakeuphismindtohisdeath.Hepacedthegroundbeforehislodgeindishonorableincertitude.ThesmalleyesofthesubmissiveWachitawatchedhimwithvaguesolicitude.
Towardmorninghewasstruckbyashamefulinspiration.Hewouldcreepunperceivedtothevictim\'sside,unloosehisbonds,andbidhimflytotheIndianagency.TherehewastoinformMrs.Dallthatherhusband\'ssafetydependeduponhisabsentinghimselfforafewdays,butthatshewastoremainandcommunicatewithElijah.
Shewouldunderstandeverything,perhaps;atleastshewouldknowthattheprisoner\'sreleasewastopleaseher,butevenifshedidnot,noharmwouldbedone,awhiteman\'slifewouldbesaved,andhisrealmotivewouldnotbesuspected.Heturnedwithfeverisheagernesstothelodge.Wachitahaddisappeared——probablytojointheotherwomen.Itwaswell;shewouldnotsuspecthim.
Thetreetowhichthedoomedmanwasboundwas,bycustom,selectednearestthechief\'slodge,withinitssacredenclosure,withnootherprotectionthanthatofferedbyitsreservedseclusionandtheoutersemicircleofwarriors\'tentsbeforeit.Toescape,thecaptivewouldthereforehavetopassbesidethechief\'slodgetotherearanddescendthehilltowardtheshore.Elijahwouldshowhimtheway,andmakeitappearasifhehadescapedunaided.Asheglidedintotheshadowofagroupofpines,hecoulddimlydiscerntheoutlineofthedestinedvictim,securedagainstoneofthelargertreesinasittingposture,withhisheadfallenforwardonhisbreastasifinsleep.Butatthesamemomentanotherfigureglidedoutfromtheshadowandapproachedthefataltree.
ItwasWachita!
Hestoppedinamazement.Butinanotherinstantaflashofintelligencemadeitclear.Herememberedhervagueuneasinessandsolicitudeathisagitation,hersuddendisappearance;shehadfathomedhisperplexity,asshehadoncebefore.Ofherownaccordshewasgoingtoreleasetheprisoner!Theknifetocuthiscordsglitteredinherhand.Braveandfaithfulanimal!
Heheldhisbreathashedrewnearer.But,tohishorror,theknifesuddenlyflashedintheairanddarteddown,againandagain,uponthebodyofthehelplessman.Therewasaconvulsivestruggle,butnooutcry,andthenextmomentthebodyhunglimpandinertinitscords.Elijahwouldhimselfhavefallen,half-
fainting,againstatree,but,byarevulsionoffeeling,camethequickrevelationthatthedesperategirlhadrightlysolvedtheproblem!Shehaddonewhatheoughttohavedone——andhisloyaltyandmanhoodwerepreserved.Thatconvictionandthecouragetoactuponit——tohavecalledthesleepingbravestowitnesshissacrifice——wouldhavesavedhim,butitwasorderedotherwise.
Asthegirlrapidlypassedhimhethrewouthishandandseizedherwrist.\"Whodidyoudothisfor?\"hedemanded.
\"Foryou,\"shesaid,stupidly.
\"Andwhy?\"
\"Becauseyounokillhim——youlovehissquaw.\"
\"HISsquaw!\"Hestaggeredback.Aterriblesuspicionflasheduponhim.HedashedWachitaasideandrantothetree.ItwasthebodyoftheIndianagent!Aboriginaljusticehadbeensatisfied.ThewarriorshadnotcaughttheMURDERER,but,truetotheirideaofvicariousretribution,haddeterminedupontheexpiatorysacrificeofalifeasvaluableandinnocentastheonetheyhadlost.
\"SotheGov\'rmenthevatlastwokeupandwipedoutthemcussedDiggerMinyos,\"saidSnapshotHarry,ashelaiddownthenewspaper,inthebrand-newsaloonofthebrand-newtownofRedwood.\"Iseethey\'vestampededbothbanksoftheMinyoRiver,andsentoffalottothereservation.IreckonthesoldiersatFortCassgotsicko\'
sentimentafterthosehoundskilledtheInjunagent,andarebeginningtoagreewithusthattheonly\'goodInjun\'isadeadone.\"
\"Anditturnsoutthatthatwonderfulchief,thatthemtwopackersusedtoraveabout,wozaboutasbigadevilezany,andtriedtorunoffwiththeagent\'swife,onlythewarriorskilledher.I\'dliketoknowwhatbecomeofhim.Somesayshewaskilled,othersallowthathegotaway.I\'veheerdtellthathewasoriginallysomekindofMethodistpreacher!——akindo\'saintthatgotasorto\'spiritooalholtontheoldsquawsandchildren.\"
\"Whydon\'tyouaskoldSkeesicks?Iseehe\'sbackhereag\'in——andgrubbin\'alongatadollaradayontailin\'s.He\'sbeensomewhereupnorth,theysay.\"
\"What,Skeesicks?thatshiftless,o\'n\'rycuss!Youbethewusn\'tanywherewheretherewasdangeroffighting.Why,youmightaswellhevsuspectedHIMofbeingthebigchiefhimself!Therehecomes——askhim.\"
AndthelaughterwassogeneralthatElijahMartin——aliasSkeesicks——loungingshylyintothebar-room,joinedinitweakly.
End
