| Show Naw no friend started to rise from Lowry speak with forked tongue his bed of fur He skins Lowry was praying silently and wishing more and more that his old friend Cap Whitlock was here to explain amd speak more dis tinctly He went on Chief you invited us to come here land and to teach red man white manways of farming Chief Walker as if to assert his chieftaincy height walked to the opening arm in the direction Lowry had War Lord terrible take rose to his full raised the flap and stretching come pointed and said GO Lowry could not believe what he was hearing the to temper but this He knew his He had known of if he did not obey he would be turned back to those war-hungry warriors again he rose groped his feeble way to the opening He could see that these same braves had stripped his horses and were dividing his blankets and all the gifts he had brought including his prized pack saddle so He screamed with rage as he lunged forward to try to recover some of these precious things Chief Walker your men are the thieves They are stealing all the presentsbrought you They seized him atgesture from Walker tied his hands and feet with rawhide thongs tied them to his neck ard stretched him spread-eagle upon the cold hard-packed earth He lay there for hours not moving for he felt the thongs tighten as they began to dry Several hours later as the Chief walked among them he seemed to see for the first time all that Lowry had brought He ordered him released pointed toward the Fort and said GO while there is time Your braves will laugh at Walker if he sends Lowry out to die without his gun and blankets Go white thief Walker commanded again as several eager warriors untied Lowry and shoved hin toward the fire drawing long knives again as they did this Please Chief please help me Lowry was pleading for his 1ife now 1l give you all the gifts that Father Norley sent and he will send more if you will be his friend He is your friend and wants to smoke peace pipe and talk about beef At last he seemed to make Walker really hear him though the big Indian still looked confused ani unsure as if instate of shock or hyprosis -29 |
