human
He was bringing it to us, he said in a low voice.
gpt
You remember, Hannah, that I told him the whole story. I did not know then how much he understood. But he must have understood it all. He went back to his own people and got the papers, and was bringing them to us when the blizzard overtook him. Poor Eagle Eye, poor loyal friend, he gave his life in our service. After a moment’s thought he went on:
human
I wonder how he got it? I wonder what became of Red Snake? If he knows that this box has been taken from him he will never rest until he has his revenge and gets it back again.
gpt
God protect us,
human
Put it away carefully, he said.
gpt
We will examine it more carefully when I come back. Just now our first duty is to Eagle Eye. Call the boys, Ruth. We must go after the body at once. I could not sleep this night knowing that the body of our faithful friend was lying uncovered on the plains.
human
Why, that’s the Indian Lige and I found the night you were lost in the blizzard! I remember him perfectly. But I had never seen him before. You know I was away all the time Eagle Eye was at our house. Lige never looked at him at all, we were both so cold, and so scared and anxious about you. How do you suppose he came to be here?
gpt
He was coming to us, Joe, Mr. Peniman answered solemnly.
human
He was bringing to us a thing that we—all of us—would have been willing to pay any price to receive. And he gave his life in our service.
gpt
What, Father? What was he bringing?
human
He was bringing Nina’s dispatch-box. The box that was stolen from the wagon the night of the Indian raid.
gpt
Where was it?
human
On the prairie, very near his body. Ruth found it there.
gpt
Great heavens! I kicked it with my foot the night of the blizzard! I thought it was a tin can. _Nina’s dispatch-box_! And it has lain all these months on the prairies!
human
God is good,