Annette - The Metis Spy

"Little Poplar," she exclaimed. "Mademoiselle," turning toward her

mistress, "it is about him that I have told you;" and the dainty

maiden crept softly as a kitten over to the side of the handsome

chief. He smiled, stooped, and touched her forehead with his lips.

Then he rose to the height of his splendid stature again, and took

off his cap.

"There is danger to mademoiselle and to ma Julie. Just now a band of

painted Crees with Tall Elk and Jean, Le Grand Chef's man, at their

head are coming to make you prisoners. Follow me instantly."

In a few moments the two girls were gliding swiftly from the house

toward the corral where their horses stood tethered, the chief

bearing the little packages of valuables in his arms. There was no

time to be lost, and as the trio rode away from the corral, the

neighing of the enemies' ponies close at hand burst in a wild shower

upon their ears.

"Follow me," whispered the chief, and as he rode around the shoulder

of the gloomy hill, the cries of the disappointed Indians were borne

upon the night. When they reached the level prairie the chief reined

in his horse, and the three paced along side by side.

"How can we thank the brave chief enough for his care and help,"

Annette said in the heartiest tones of her sweet voice.

"I was passing through the village of Tall Elk at the set of sun,

and heard the great chief's man, Jean, say, 'It will be a good catch

to-night for master and man, won't it? I take Julie; Le Grand Chef

gets the other.' I then enquired of Tall Elk, and he told me of their

plans. The house was to be surrounded before moonrise; mademoiselle

was to be seized and taken away to the hut of the hag Jubal, and

Julie was to be borne to the cabin of Jean's mother." As he spoke

these words a terrible light gleamed in his eyes, and he muttered, "Had this man. Jean, succeeded I should have hunted him down and

taken out his heart."

When they were far beyond the enemy's reach, Annette said, "Will the chef ride to yonder cottonwood and wait there until his

Julie and myself have put on apparel more suited to our present

inclinations?" Tall Poplar rode away; but when he joined the maidens

again a great look of dismay came into his eyes.

"Where are--" but before he ended the words, the truth flashed

across him, and he burst out in a tone of mirth and approval: "Brava,

brava: there is not a man in all the plains that can name these two

Indian boys."

Annette remained during the balance of the night with her aunt; but

she arose before the dew was dry, and with the other lad at her side,

for Julie would not remain behind her mistress, was off at a brisk

canter towards Fort Pitt. The news which she had heard lent speed to

Annette. From far and near the Crees had come to enroll themselves

under the banner of the blood-thirsty chief, Big Bear; and the

murderous hordes were at that very moment, she knew, menacing the

poorly garrisoned fort with rifle, hatchet and fire.