spite of this foregone conclusion, he DID speak to her. To his
surprise she did not deny it. Lieutenant Forsyth,--a vain and conceited
fool,--whose silly attentions she had accepted solely that she might get
recreation beyond the fort,--had presumed to tell her what SHE must do!
As if SHE was one of those stupid officers' wives or sisters! And
it never would have happened if he--Peter--had let her remain at the
reservation with the Indian agent's wife, or if "Charley" (the gentle
Lascelles) were here! HE would have let her go, or taken her there.
Besides all the while she was among friends; HIS, Peter's own
friends,--the people whose cause he was championing! In vain did Peter
try to point out to her that these "people" were still children in mind
and impulse, and capable of vacillation or even treachery. He remembered
he was talking to a child in mind and impulse, who had shown the same
qualities, and in trying to convince her of her danger he felt he was
only voicing the common arguments of his opponents.
He spoke also to the colonel, excusing her through her ignorance, her
trust in his influence with the savages, and the general derangement of
her health. The colonel, relieved of his suspicions of a promising
young officer, was gentle and sympathetic, but firm as to Peter's future
course. In a moment of caprice and willfulness she might imperil the
garrison as she had her escort, and, more than that, she was imperiling
Peter's influence with the Indians. Absurd stories had come to his ears
regarding the attitude of the reservation towards him. He thought she
ought to return home as quickly as possible. Fortunately an opportunity
offered. The general commanding had advised him of the visit to the fort
of a party of English tourists who had been shooting in the vicinity,
and who were making the fort the farthest point of their western
excursion. There were three or four ladies in the party, and as they
would be returning to the line of railroad under escort, she could
easily accompany them. This, added Colonel Carter, was also Mrs.
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