Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXI THE VOYAGERS ARRIVE The bull boat had slipped out of a gorge wherein it had whirled over rapids until the voyagers were dizzy, and was floating, between high and caving banks, well out into some bottom lands. Etapa lay curled like a young fox upon the bottom of the craft and, within the small remaining space, upon the blanket rolls which supported the sleeper, Zintkala sat upon her knees. She did not try to propel the boat but used a light pole merely to keep it from grounding. Wi, the sun, had sloped half way down in the west and the day was warm, quite too warm, within the river's channel, for exertion. Here and there for a little way the big skin tub would sail along quite rapidly, whirling around and around like a floating turtle shell. Again drifting as an autumn leaf drifts it floated, barely moving against the gray earth banks; and the young girl's head would droop, nodding sleepily, until it rested upon her bosom. Then the pole would drop from her nerveless fingers and she would awake with a start to stretch a small brown hand out upon the current. In one of these quick catches after the pole the bull boat dipped water, drenching Etapa's face; and this so pleased Zintkala that she laughed herself awake. The boy grumbled sleepily and turned his wet cheek under an arm. Zintkala did not land the boat to climb the steep banks, for she had done this many days until she was weary of continued disappointments. She knew that if the Oglalas were camped in this strange country they would be found very near to the river--for most small streams were dry at this season--and so there could be no danger of passing their village unawares. For days they had seen no sign of human creatures and they were drifting now almost aimlessly, ..