Prevod
Čipevci in Sjuji so se zbrali v trdnjavi Fort Snelling, da bi se poveselili in utrdili prijateljske vezi. Flying Shadow je bila žalostna, ko je napočil čas, da se plemeni razideta, kajti Track Maker ji je osvojil srce in njegova ljubezen do nje ni bila nič manj močna od njene. Toda čipevsko dekle se ni smelo poročiti med Sjuje; če bi se, bi se vsi obrnili proti njej, brž ko bi plemeni začeli vojno drugo proti drugemu, vojna pa je bila bliže, kakor sta slutila. Čipevci so odšli polni naklonjenosti, Flying Shadow pa je v nedrjih skrivala drobna darila, ki so pričala o Track Makerjevi ljubezni, in vzdihovala ob misli na leta, ki utegnejo preteči, preden se znova srečata.
Dva čipevska odpadnika, ki sta zaostala za skupino, sta po tem prijetnem slovesu zagrešila podlo dejanje: ubila sta Sjuja. Komaj je novica o tem zločinu prispela v trdnjavo, že se je tristo bojevnikov pognalo po sledi svojih še nedavnih gostov in prijateljev, vsi pa so klicali po maščevanju. Med njimi je bil tudi Track Maker, kajti kot bojevnik ni mogel ostati zadaj, potem ko so mu ustrelili brata. Čeprav mu je srce upadalo ob misli na nežno Flying Shadow, je korakal v prvih vrstah in zgodaj zjutraj so presenetili Čipevce med slapovi svetega Antona in reko Rum, kjer so brez strahu postavili tabor, saj za umor, zaradi katerega jih je čakalo toliko kazni, niso ne vedeli ne bili zanj krivi.
Sjuji so planili nanje in pobijali vse po vrsti — moške, ženske in otroke. Sredi pokola se Track Maker znajde iz oči v oči s Flying Shadow in ona se mu z radostnim vzklikom vrže v objem. Toda tam zanjo ni zavetja. Najsi bi jo še tako rad rešil, predobro ve, da žeja po krvi ne bo potešena, dokler ne bo mrtev prav vsak iz te skupine. Za hip jo stisne na prsi in ji nežno pogleda v oči — nato pa skloni glavo, odide dalje in se niti enkrat ne ozre. To je dovolj. Dekle se nezavestno zgrudi in divjak, ki plane nanjo, ji z glave iztrga skalp.
Sjuji si priborijo sto skalpov in proslavijo zmago s plesom in petjem. Track Maker se vrne z več skalpi kakor kdor koli drug in dekleta ga pozdravljajo kot junaka, on pa se resnobno drži zase ter se ne udeležuje gostij in veseljačenja. Nenehno se mu prikazuje zaupljivi, proseči, začudeni obraz Flying Shadow. Zre vanj z obraza jelena, ki ga namerava ubiti. Vidi ga v reki, v listju, v oblakih. Prikazuje se mu v sanjah. Starejši pravijo, da je začaran, toda on zavrača vsa njihova zdravila. Ko izbruhne vojna, prvi odide vanjo in prvi začne boj. Plane med sovražnike in seka okoli sebe s sekiro, dokler ne pade, preboden s stoterimi sulicami in puščicami. Takšno usodo je iskal in ko pade, mu obraz razsvetli nasmeh.
Izvirnik
The Chippewas and Sioux had come together at Fort Snelling to make merry and cement friendships. Flying Shadow was sad when the time came for the tribes to part, for Track Maker had won her heart, and no less strong than her love was the love he felt for her. But a Chippewa girl might not marry among the Sioux, and, if she did, the hand of every one would be against her should ever the tribes wage war upon each other, and war was nearer than either of them had expected. The Chippewas left with feelings of good will, Flying Shadow concealing in her bosom the trinkets that testified to the love of Track Maker and sighing as she thought of the years that might elapse ere they met again.
Two renegade Chippewas, that had lingered behind the band, played the villain after this pleasant parting, for they killed a Sioux. Hardly was the news of this outrage received at the fort ere three hundred warriors were on the trail of their whilom guests and friends, all clamoring for revenge. Among them was Track Maker, for he could not, as a warrior, remain behind after his brother had been shot, and, while his heart sank within him as he thought of the gentle Flying Shadow, he marched in advance, and early in the morning the Chippewas were surprised between St. Anthony's Falls and Rum River, where they had camped without fear, being alike ignorant and innocent of the murder for which so many were to be punished.
The Sioux fell upon them and cut down all alike--men, women, and children. In the midst of the carnage Track Maker comes face to face with Flying Shadow, and with a cry of gladness she throws herself into his arms. But there is no refuge there. Gladly as he would save her, he knows too well that the thirst for blood will not be sated until every member of that band is dead. He folds her to his bosom for an instant, looks into her eyes with tenderness--then bowing his head he passes on and never glances back. It is enough. She falls insensible, and a savage, rushing upon her, tears the scalp from her head.
The Sioux win a hundred scalps and celebrate their victory with dance and song. Track Maker has returned with more scalps than any, and the maidens welcome him as a hero, but he keeps gravely apart from all, and has no share in the feasting and merry-making. Ever the trusting, pleading, wondering face of Flying Shadow comes before him. It looks out at him in the face of the deer he is about to kill. He sees it in the river, the leaves, the clouds. It rises before him in dreams. The elder people say he is bewitched, but he will have none of their curatives. When war breaks out he is the first to go, the first to open battle. Rushing among his enemies he lays about him with his axe until he falls, pierced with a hundred spears and arrows. It is the fate he has courted, and as he falls his face is lighted with a smile.
