He picked up the lace gown and saw that it was torn from shoulder to waist.

What insanity had possessed the girl to rip her garment thus?
"She take her 'nother dress; the one I make las' summer," said Alluna, who had followed him in and stood staring as he stared.
"When did she go, Alluna?
For God's sake, what does this mean ?" "I don' know! She come and she go, and I don' see her; mebbe three, four hour ago." "Where's Gale?
He'll know.

He's gone after her, eh ?" The upward glow of the lantern heightened the young man's pallor, and again the squaw broke into her sad lament.
"John Gale--he's gone away with the knife of my father.

I am afraid--I am afraid." Burrell forced himself to speak calmly; this was no time to let his wits stampede.
"How long ago ?" "Long time." "Did he come back here just now ?" "No; he went to the jail-house, and he would not let me follow.

He don' come back no more." This was confusing, and Meade cried, angrily: "Why didn't you give the alarm?
Why didn't you come to me instead of yelling your lungs out around the house ?" "He told me to wait," she said, simply.
"Go find Poleon, quick." "He told me to wait," she repeated, stoically, and Burrell knew he was powerless to move her.