Page 51 (2/2)

combined made the heat unbearable, and Annette with no little

confusion laid by her blanket Perceiving her discomfiture, Stephens

arose and wandered about the prairie, picking flowers; and only

returned in obedience to the call of Julie's little silver whistle

Very soon, the party was in ,

Captain Stephens riding in rear beside Phillips, as again

feverish with his wounds

They rode till the postshelter in a bluff, they lunched and rested for several

hours They then resu the day Stephens rode frequently by the side of Annette,

but she invariably made her horse lances, and his deep expressions of gratitude,

Stephens gradually began to resume his old playful manner of address

He referred to her as "the little Cree boy," and in speaking of her

to Julie or Phillips, always used the word "he" Annette took no heed

of this; she led the party through mazes of woodland, across

stretches where there was no trail, or selected the caht about twelve, monsieur," she said to

Stephens when supper had been ended, "and we had better resue not far from here, and the braves

are everywhere abroad I do not think that travelling by day would be

safe; for all the Indians must have read the proclamation"