Girl in a Buckskin by Gilman Dorothy

Author:Gilman, Dorothy [Gilman, Dorothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

BECKY SAW ESECK WALKING ACROSS THE FROZEN LAKE when she went out at sunrise to fill her water pail. She had never expected to see him so soon and she straightened, wondering uneasily at such an early return. There was no wind today, and the sunrise promised a fair day with even a few hours of sun. Shielding her eyes with her hand she stared across the brightening snows for a better look at Eseck’s face but as always it remained as blank of emotion as an Indian’s and told her nothing.

“I’m back,” he said, coming to her but with his eyes not meeting hers.

“How was Dawn-of-the-sky?” she asked quickly.

“She is well,” he said and walked past her into the cave.

“What—what other news?” she asked timidly. “Indeed I did not expect you so soon.”

He had spread his hands before the blaze at the hearth and was staring thoughtfully into the flames. “There is news,” he said. “The war grows savage—it is kill, kill, kill.”

She stiffened at the odd tonelessness of his voice. “And did Blue Feather and the hunters come back with much meat?”

“The hunters returned. I did not ask about their hunting.”

“Dawn-of-the-sky must be very happy.”

“I’m hungry,” he said, turning abruptly. “Have you nothing to eat?”

“I’m sorry.” Becky began moving around swiftly, spooning stew into his trencher and pouring hot tea into the noggin. “I didn’t think,” she said apologetically. “How cold you must be, and how empty.”

Eseck sat down on the floor with his legs crossed under him and began devouring the food, scarcely bothering to use his spoon at all. Becky watched him curiously, wondering what troubled him. She had never seen him this way before, but she would not nag him. If what troubled him concerned her then she would hear of it soon enough.

When Eseck had finished eating he swung around and looked at her. “You did not mind being alone?”

“No,” she said calmly, “I did not mind.”

His eyes slid around the cave, taking in their precious winter stores. “You can use the snowshoes as well as I,” he said, “and you shoot an arrow almost as straight as I. The dugout is finished and you have shot your first deer and others besides.”

“Aye,” she said politely.

He stood up and walked to his musket. Sitting down beside it he began to clean it with great care. Seeing that he was not going to speak again Becky turned aside and began mincing venison with the hunting knife.

Eseck said suddenly, “If the need ever arose, you would not hesitate to go to Black Eagle? The Mahicans are your friends, you are their daughter Little Doe now.”

Becky looked at him with anxious eyes. “Eseck, what is it?” she said simply. “Has war come to this valley?”

He was silent a moment, his eyes brooding. “Aye,” he said at last, “you might very well say that war has come to our valley. Strange things happen to a man, Becky. These are bitter days.”

“Nothing will happen to you, Eseck,” she said, not understanding him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.