Red Wolf

“ As yet there had been no sign of any pursuers near them, but toward the close of one long, bright day Red Wolf had fallen so far behind that he was almost out of sight of his pale-face friends.
The swift mustang under him was in fine condition. So very well did he feel that he was restive, and a deer that sprang out of a covert of hazel-bushes as he was going by made him jump and throw up his heels. Not that he was at all afraid of a deer, but that it was curious, perhaps, to find himself carrying a hunter who would not so much as send an arrow after such capital game. ”

“ There was no need, therefore, of throwing away any pity on those who had been cut by the lances or "barked" by the bullets of the Lipans. Red Wolf himself had concealed a smart score of a lance-thrust along his left side, for fear he might be forbidden going on that second war-path. Even now he refused to consider it as amounting to anything, and his sister's face glowed with family pride as she said to Rita,
"Red Wolf is a true Apache. He's a warrior already. He will be a great chief some day. The Knotted Cord is white. He has no scars. He has never been on a war-path." ”

“ A refusal to go out with the hunters was a strange thing to come from Red Wolf. No other young brave in that band of Apaches had a better reputation for killing deer and buffaloes. It was a common saying among the older squaws that when he came to have a lodge of his own "there would always be plenty of meat in it."
He was not, therefore, a "lazy Indian," and it was something he had on his mind that kept him in the camp that day. It had also made him beckon to Ni-ha-be, and look very hard after Rita when she hurried away toward the bushes with her three magazines of "talking leaves." ”

“ The woman seemed to take a delight in exciting the anger of the Indian, instead of calming it.
"Because doubtlessly," she said, "a wiser man than the Red Wolf has gained the votes of his brothers."
"Let my mother say that a greater rogue stole them from him, and her words will be true," he exclaimed violently. "Grizzly Bear is a Comanche dog, the son of an exile, received through favour into my tribe; his scalp will soon dry on the girdle of the Red Wolf."
"Patience!" the woman said in a hoarse voice. "Vengeance is a fruit which is only eaten ripe: the Red Wolf is a warrior; he can wait." ”

“ Ride a mile to the west of our line of march. Keep your eye out for enemies. If you see any, get back to us full speed. Great Bear has sixty braves. Maybe more. We are only twenty. He would wipe us out."
Away went Red Wolf. He was only a scout, but he was a youngster doing warrior duty, and he felt as if the fate of the whole band depended upon him. It was another big thing to add to his remarkable experiences of the day before,—a fort, guns, a grand cock-fight, and the heroes of the border,—white chiefs who were famous among all the tribes. ”

“ Red Wolf was proud of his powerful voice, and that would be a sure way to tease him.
"Rita! The great chief is angry! He calls for you!"
He was close upon them by this time, and they reined in their horses. Teasing Red Wolf was one thing, but disobeying Many Bears was quite another.
They had seen squaws beaten for smaller offences than that.
"We have done wrong, Ni-ha-be."
"Oh, not much. We can ride back as fast as our ponies can carry us. Turn and meet him." ”

“ Red-wolf smiled as he answered: ‘This ye say in jest, brother; for ye may see that our day’s journey hath not been over-much for our old men; how then should it weary those who may yet bear sword? We are ready for the road and eager for the handplay.’
‘This is well,’ said Folk-might, ‘and what was to be looked for. Therefore, brother, do ye and your counsel-mates come straightway to the Hall of the Wolf ”

“ It was as if a finger were pointing out of the whirlpool.
Fully six feet of earth had crumbled away. The trap, of course, had fallen with the man who had stepped upon the treacherous place to get it. Wolf cursed, a savage sound in the gathering darkness.
He walked rather swiftly on the way back to his camp. He wanted to be with his furs again—to realize that they were all, all his, with none now to claim even a part of them. He had killed the creatures that wore them; who else had a right to them? Besides, the deepening darkness and silence of the forest oppressed him. ”

“ How different the wolf looks now! how demure! he hides his teeth! walks gently along and seems quite another animal. The wolf, who was as cunning as he was cruel, hearing that people were near, at once changed his savage look into one of as much kindness as it was possible for him to do. Presently up came the faggot makers; and the wolf slunk by the side of the little girl as though he were afraid of them.
"Good morning, Little Red Riding Hood," said one of the faggot makers.
"You are up betimes. Where are you going thus early?"
"To see grandmother," replied Little Red Riding Hood. ”

“ Red Wolf rode closer to him at the moment, and said,
"Knotted Cord is young. Been on war-path before?"
"Say yes, Steve," muttered Murray.
"Yes, I'm young. Seen a good deal, though. Many war-paths."
"What tribe strike?"
"Lipans, Comanches, Mexicans. Followed some Pawnees once. They got away."
Red Wolf's whole manner told of the respect he felt for a young brave who had already been out against the fiercest warriors of the Indian country. He would have given a good many ponies to have been able to say as much for himself. ”

“ For straightway down the bent came striding Face-of-god betwixt the two Banners of the Wolf, and beside him were Red-wolf the tall and War-grove, and therewithal Wood-wont and Wood-wicked, and many other men of the Wolf; for now that the men of the kindreds had been brought face to face with the foe, and there was less need of them for way-leaders, the more part of them were liefer to fight under their own banner along with the Woodlanders ”

“ Red Wolf rode too fast for them to say much, and he did not pause until he reached the very presence of Many Bears and his counsellors.
There were already signs, in all directions, that the camp was beginning to break up, as well as tokens of impatience on the face of the chief.
"Where go?" he said, angrily. "Why do young squaws ride away when they are wanted?"
Ni-ha-be was about to answer, but Red Wolf had his own story to tell first, and he sternly bade her to hold her tongue till he had made his report. It was eagerly listened to.
Pale-face enemies so near! Who could they be? ”

“ So he did not fire, but took a pair of shears and began to slit up the wolf's body. When he made a few snips Little Red-cap appeared, and after a few more snips she jumped out and cried, "Oh dear, how frightened I have been! it is so dark inside the wolf." And then out came the old grandmother, still living and breathing. But Little Red-cap went and quickly fetched some large stones, with which she filled the wolf's body, so that when he waked up, and was going to rush away, the stones were so heavy that he sank down and fell dead. ”

“ Without a word White Wolf turned and rode toward his band, and Red Pine returned to his warriors.
White Wolf was a big, fat, burly Indian, who has since become quite well known on the plains as the meanest beggar of them all; one who will steal a blanket or murder a white man for the sake of a drink of whisky. He has became very much demoralized since the time we first met him, demanding the prisoner of the Sioux chief. ”

“ For a moment the immediate surroundings faded from Wolf's consciousness—blinked out like a light and left a river-picture that filled him with a strange, quivering eagerness. It was down by the great whirlpool, beyond the fallen pine, where the waters had undermined the bank. Buck had not been with him when he found the fisher, alive and ready to fight to the death in the trap. There had been many blows that day. Life had been tenacious in the beautiful body. But he had done his work well, and had not injured the skin. ”

“ The youth lay hovering, as it seemed, between life and death. While in that condition, he detected a footfall near him. He was able to turn his head, but could not move his body. He recognized Red Wolf, who was standing a few steps away, knife in hand. He had returned to take the scalp of the dying lad, and would have done so, had not Lone Bear, coming from another direction, interfered. By some argument he led the other to change his mind, and both walked away.
From that moment reaction set in, and Otto rallied fast. ”

“ The afternoon was long and still, with hardly a breath of air in the pine-tops. As the hours passed, Wolf's exultation increased. Again and again his hands worked through the piles of pelts, gloating over them, drunk with the knowledge of possession. They were his, all his—for Buck had not returned.
Twilight is always a mystery in the mountains, and just at the drop of it, Wolf started up the river. It was well to pretend to make a search, he thought: he would be able to tell the curious in the valley below how he had hunted over all the hills, and be able to prove it if he wished. ”

“ Wolf scorned him in his thoughts, yet at the same time he envied him. For did he not own half—the better half—of the pelts? At least, he owned them now—until the night's sleep claimed him, and shut his bright, boyish eyes.
“Them are sure fine furs!” Buck suddenly exulted.
For the first time the hot light went out of Wolf's eyes, and left them icy and glittering. If Buck had seen the look, he would have known no sleep that night. Only the black hatred of jealousy and covetousness brings that look to the eyes of men. But Buck rose and shuffled to his cot; and Wolf was left alone by the fire. ”

“ He looked a long time into the wild waters, fascinated by the faint glow that the fire flung over them. They would clutch a man, those waters; they would hurl him against the great boulders of the river-bed; they would carry him away as sleep had carried Buck,—only from such a sleep he could never awaken.
Wolf's creed was the creed of the beast for which he was named, but it was also the creed of the river: to slay all that could not conquer it. Wolf Aiken rose slowly, and went to the pile of steel traps that the two of them had but recently taken up. ”

“ For a little crack in the leg!" cried Red, with some impatience. "You people must quit easy in this country. Die nothin'. One of our boys came along and took us to camp, and we was up and doing again in no time. 'Course, Black Wolf has a game leg for good, but the worst that's stuck to me is a yank or two of rheumatism in the rainy season. I paid Wolf for his cayuse," he finished shamefacedly. "I had the laugh on him anyhow."
Miss Mattie told him she thought that was noble of him, which tribute Red took as medicine, and shifted the subject with speed, to practical affairs. ”

“ The fire roared up the chimney, the stove glowed red hot and the boys sat and looked and listened. Rod took out his watch. It lacked only ten minutes of midnight. Yet neither seemed possessed with a desire to return to their interrupted sleep.
"Wolf is a curious beast," mused Wabi softly. "You might think he was a sneaking, traitorous cur of a wolf to turn against his own breed and lure them to death. But he isn't. Wolf, as well as Mukoki, has good cause for what he does. You might call it animal vengeance. ”

“ With a thong of buckskin he tied the bundle to the ridgepole, at the very rear of the tent and almost at the brink of the river. But every day the thought of their possession was dearer to him. Soon he could leave the dreadful forest, and take them with him down into the valleys. Men would admire them there, and many would try to buy them. He wondered if any of these admiring men would try to kill him for them.
But his self-control was not so perfect that he could shut out certain haunting memories. And all at once Wolf remembered that his brother had been a particularly able swimmer. ”

“ As soon as he was gone, Little Red Riding Hood began to pick some sweet purple and white violets for a nosegay for her grandmother, when she thought to herself, "I wonder why the wolf asked me any questions about Granny? Being a stranger, I think I ought not to have told him." And she began to be afraid of the wolf's mischief. Indeed, it was a fault of Little Red Riding Hood that she was sometimes too fond of talking: and when she thought upon this matter, more and more she felt that she had done wrong in telling the wolf anything. ”

“ Buck said suddenly.
Wolf reached out his lean hand, with suddenly narrowing eyes. “Let me deal, this time,” he demanded.
Wolf was cold himself, but he shook his head. “We'll be turnin' in in a minute. Go ahead and get the bunk warm.”
All men who have been in the wilderness have learned the solace and comfort of a high, bright fire at night. As the flames leap, the memory-cords of a thousand-thousand years begin to hum, and a man crawls out of his civilization as a butterfly from its chrysalis ”

“ There was a slight rustling at the outside door, and in stalked a sturdy Indian in blanket and leggins and soft moccasins, causing his firm tread to fall noiselessly, and giving Daddy a superstitious start, as if he had seen an apparition. The red man stated in broken English that he had brought a letter a long way from the "lodge of the pale face, to the Wolf squaw."
Daddy hastened to put the letter in Little Wolf's hand. It proved to be a rather lengthy communication from Antoinette La Claire, and as all were interested, at Little Wolf's request, Louise proceeded to read it aloud. ”