按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ed… 〃
〃Don't tell me；〃 she interrupted sleepily。 〃I know her name。 Pocahontas。〃
He laughed softly。 〃Somebody told you；〃 he said in mock reproach。 〃Pocahontas。 That was her name。〃
〃Nobody told me；〃 she whispered faintly。 〃I read it someplace。〃
Her hand slipped slowly from his and he looked down。 Her eyes were closed and she was fast asleep。
Quietly he got up and straightened the blanket around her； then turned and walked into the other room。 He spread a blanket on the couch and undressed quickly。 He stretched out and wrapped the blanket around him。
John Smith and Pocahontas。 He wondered how many times he had mockingly told that story。 But the truth was stranger still。 And probably； no one would believe it。
It was so long ago that there were times he didn't believe it himself any more。 His name wasn't Nevada Smith then； it was Max Sand。
And he was wanted for armed robbery and murder in three different states。
2
IT WAS IN MAY OF 1882 THAT Samuel Sand came into the small cabin that he called home and sat down heavily on a box that served him for a chair。 Silently his squaw woman heated some coffee and placed it before him。 She moved heavily； being swollen with child。
He sat there for a long time； his coffee growing cold before him。 Occasionally； he would look out the door toward the prairie； with its faint remnant patches of snow still hidden in the corners of rises。
The squaw began to cook the evening meal。 Beans and salt buffalo meat。 It was still early in the day to cook the meal； because the sun had not yet reached the noon； but she felt vaguely disturbed and had to do something。 Now and then； she would glance at Sam out of the corners of her eyes but he was lost in a troubled world that women were not allowed to enter。 So she kept stirring the beans and meat in the pot and waited for his mood and the day to pass。
Kaneha was sixteen that spring and it was only the summer before that the buffalo…hunter had e to the tepees of her tribe to purchase a wife。 He had e on a black horse； leading a mule that was burdened heavily with pack。
The chief and the council of braves came out to greet him。 They sat down in a circle of peace around the fire with the pot of stew cooking over it。 The chief took out the pipe and Sam took out a bottle of whisky。 Silently the chief held the pipe to the glowing coals and then； when it was lit； held it to his mouth and puffed deeply。 He passed it to Sam； who puffed and in turn passed it to the brave seated next to him in the circle。
When the pipe came back to the chief； Sam opened the bottle of whisky。 He wiped the rim of it carefully and tilted it to his lips； then offered it to the chief。 The chief did the same and took a large swallow of the whisky。 It burned his throat and his eyes watered and he wanted to cough； but he choked back the cough and passed the bottle to the brave seated next to him。
When the bottle came back to Sam； he placed it on the ground in front of the chief。 He leaned forward and took a piece of meat out of the pot。 He chewed elaborately on the fatty morsel with much smacking of his lips and then swallowed it。
He looked at the chief。 〃Good dog。〃
The chief nodded。 〃We cut out its tongue and kept it tied to a stake that it would be properly fat。〃
They were silent for a moment and the chief reached again for the bottle of whisky。 Sam knew it was then time for him to speak。
〃I am a mighty hunter；〃 he boasted。 〃My gun has slain thousands of buffalo。 My prowess is known all across the plains。 There is no brave who can feed as many as I。〃
The chief nodded solemnly。 〃The deeds of Red Beard are known to us。 It is an honor to wele him to our tribe。〃
〃I have e to my brothers for the maiden known as Kaneha；〃 Sam said。 〃I want her for my squaw。〃
The chief sighed slowly in relief。 Kaneha was the youngest of his daughters and the least favored。 For she was tall for a maiden； almost as tall as the tallest brave； and thin； her waist so thin that two hands could span it。 There was not enough room inside her for a child to grow； and her face and features were straight and flat； not round and fat； as a maiden's should be。 The chief sighed again in relief。 Kaneha would be no problem now。
〃It is a wise choice；〃 he said aloud。 〃The maiden Kaneha is ripe for child…bearing。 Already her blood floods thickly to the ground when the moon is high。〃
Sam got to his feet and walked over to the mule。 He opened one of the packs and took out six bottles of whisky and a small wooden box。 He carried them back to the circle and placed them on the ground before him。 He sat down again。
〃I have brought gifts to my brothers； the Kiowa；〃 he said。 〃In appreciation of the honor they show me when they allow me to sit in their council。〃
He placed the whisky bottles in front of the chief and opened the little box。 It was filled with gaily colored beads and trinkets。 He held the box so that all could see and then placed it； too； before the chief。
The chief nodded again。 〃The Kiowa is grateful for the gifts of Red Beard。 But the loss of the maiden Kaneha will be a difficult one for her tribe to bear。 Already she has won her place among us by her skills in her womanly crafts。 Her cooking and sewing； her artistry in leather…making。〃
〃I am aware of the high regard in which the Kiowa hold their daughter Kaneha；〃 Sam said formally。 〃And I came prepared to pensate them for their loss。〃
He got to his feet again。 〃For the loss of her aid in feeding the tribe； I pledge the meat of two buffalo；〃 he said； looking down at them。 〃For the loss of her labor； I give to my brothers this mule which I have brought with me。 And to pensate them for the loss of her beauty； I bring them… 〃
He paused dramatically and walked back to his mule。 Silently he untied the heavy rolled pack on its back。 He carried the pack back to the seated council and laid it on the ground before them。 Slowly he unrolled it。
A sigh of awe came unbidden from the circle。 The chief's eyes glittered。
〃。 。 。 the hide of the sacred white buffalo；〃 Sam said。 He looked around the circle。 Their eyes were fixed on the beautiful white skin that shone before them like snow on the ground。
The albino buffalo was a rarity。 The chief that could be laid to rest on such a sacred hide was assured that his spirit would enter the happy hunting grounds。 To the skin…traders； it might be worth almost as much as ten ordinary hides。 But Sam knew what he wanted。
He wanted a woman。 For five years； he had lived on these plains and had been able only to share the services of a whore once a year at trading time in the small room back of the skin…trader's post。 It was time he had a woman of his own。
The chief； so impressed with the munificence of Sam's offer that he forgot to bargain further； looked up。 〃It is with honor that we give the mighty hunter Red Beard the woman Kaneha to be his squaw。〃
He rose to his feet as a sign that the council was over。
〃Prepare my daughter Kaneha for her husband；〃 he said。 He turned and walked toward his tent and Sam followed him。
In another tent； Kaneha sat waiting。 Somehow； she had known that Red Beard had e for her。 In keeping with maidenly modesty； s