meantime Susan
was taunting Chiquita and Chiquita's admirers, while spurring her own
suitors to acts of violence. This was not done openly, as Indian maidens
do not take part in matters of love or war, in person, unless the
circumstances are very pronounced. Susan felt that it was equal to the
crime of elopement for Chiquita to escort the white man over the divide,
and could she have had her way Chiquita would have been burned at the
stake the morning following her return to the village, for this is the
penalty inflicted when the maiden eloping is the daughter of a chief.
Susan was particularly partial to Antelope and never tired of singing
his praises, but Antelope had no eyes or ears for any one except
Chiquita. Many a haunch of venison had this handsome young savage laid
at the lodge door of Chiquita's mother, and handsome lion skins, eagle
plumes and strings of elk teeth had he presented to Yamanatz in his
effort to win Chiquita.

As the moon rode high in the heavens, throwing long shafts of silvery
light through the pine boughs, and casting deep shadows across the
rushing waters of Toponas creek, Chiquita was wont to wend her way along
the needle carpeted bank, her red lips firmly compressed, while her eyes
appealed to the heavens above for the return of spring and Jack. As she
wandered here Antelope watched her from the sheltering shadow of some
great rock, and chanted love songs in hopes of obtaining the least
little recognition from her, for the Indian must win his bride by feats
of strength, conquest or purchase, and not by personal servitude, as
does his white brother, and his wooing must be indirect unless the
maiden vouchsafes him the pleasure of a meeting in some glen or dell,
where a few words may be spoken; but she reserves the right of making
first advances or indicating by some sign that her suitor may address
her, and if especially desired by her she will leave a token in the
shape of a flower, spruce branch, or rabbit's foot where the lover may
see it and heed the invitation.

Chiquita knew that the young warriors would eventually precipitate a
clash, which might occur when Jack was coming or going from the
reservation. She grew sick at heart when she reviewed the actions of
Colorow, and how certain it was that Jack's life had been in peril, and
always would be whenever he visited the Ute camps. She determined to
stop the agitation which Susan was fomenting, or at least get assurance
in some way th