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