Several times she was on the point of springing up and seizing it and placing herself upon the defensive.
Her heart throbbed wildly at the thought, but she finally concluded to resort to such an act only at the last moment.

She might still conciliate the Indian by kindness, and after all, perhaps he meditated no harm or rudeness.
"Come and sit down then, and talk with me awhile," said she, as pleasantly as it was possible.
The savage stumbled forward a few feet, and dropped into a seat, where he glared fully a minute straight into the face of the woman.

This was the most trying ordeal of all, especially when she raised her own blue eyes, and addressed him.

It seemed impossible to combat the fierce light of those orbs, although she bore their scrutiny like a heroine.
He had seated himself near the door, but he was close enough for her to detect the fumes of the liquor he had drank, and she knew a savage was never so dangerous as when in a half-intoxicated condition.
"Have you come a long distance ?" she asked.
"Good ways--live up north." "You are not a Sioux, then ?" "No--don't like Sioux--bad people." "Why do you come in their neighborhood--in their country ?" "'Cause I want to--_come see you_." "You must come again--" At this juncture, the child in the cradle awoke and began crying.

The face of the savage assumed an expression of ferocity, and he said, abruptly: "Stop noise--me tomahawk if don't." As he spoke he laid his hand in a threatening manner upon his tomahawk, and the mother sprung up and lifted the infant in her arms for the purpose of pacifying it.