Could this be Entewa?

Sorry to keep you in suspense about the fate of Entewa, the Mountain Bird and her dashing young lover, “No First Name” Barkley. I have been busy finishing up my chapter on John Bidwell and the Humboldt Road for ANCHR’s forthcoming book. Now that I have polished that off, I can get back to Entewa.

Entewa is a member of the Unco-sho-sho-nee tribe. The Shoshone I’ve heard of, but I know of no tribe called the Unco-Shoshone. I expect the author made that one up. Barkley rescues her from captivity and promises to meet her again soon.

“Will the young white brave ever think of Entewa when she is gone? Would he go to her father’s grounds?”

“Would I? replied Barkley, with a look of deep earnestness, “Yes, though walls of rock and mountains of snow, lined with enemies, lay on my way, I’d meet thee, if Entewa but wished it so.”

She gives him a gold medallion, a token of her affection, and they agree to meet.

“Yes, yes, the path is long, but Entewa will meet him, if the young white brave will come at the great burial day.”

“It is so; my life upon the word — but when?”

“On the full of yonder moon, meet me at the Battle Rock, for there Entewa will await your coming.”

But the course of true love never did run smooth. Her father, wise chief that he is, knows that no good can come of this liaison and forbids them meeting again. So, although they do meet, they part in sadness, and Entewa wonders if she will ever see her “young white brave” again.

And now in the story we meet two new characters, two mighty Indian warriors, Kee-wano and Kan-tee-baw. These two were as easy for me to mix up as Barkley and Blakely. But these two are the good guy and the bad guy of the Unco-sho-sho-nee. Kee-wano is “just in all his acts, unbiased in judgement, deliberate in council, calm in debate” and has a brotherly affection for Entewa.

Kan-tee-baw, like Kee-wano, is a famed and courageous warrior, but he is “limited in mind, mean in spirit, and selfish in feeling.” He has long wished to possess Entewa, but he has wooed her in vain, and now his jealousy is aroused by her love for the white man. He watches and follows her, as hatred grows in his heart.

Will the lovers meet again? Will Kee-wano keep Entewa’s secret? Will Kan-tee-baw dash her hopes and blast her blooming love?

Someone is bound to lose their life. Who will it be?

Stay tuned for more about Entewa, the Mountain Bird.