The men unloaded the wagonsand set the boxes and
bags of supplies under a cottonwood. He waded in beyond where the horses were
drinking and dipped thepail. He did not know, nor could he tellwhether or not he had
shot an Indian. The puffs of white smoke over the stonebetrayed the whereabouts of
both detachments.
It werent a big haul, replied
Follonsbee.
Hisbronze face lacked the heat, the dissolute
shades common to Jettand the other men.
Four freight wagons, heavily laden withhides, were
passing at some distance to the right. If he harms me Ill kill him and myself, she
whispered,passionately. Milly sought herbed, which she had made in the wagon. His
tents and fireplace, boxes andbales, evidently had not been molested during his
absence.
The fire burneddown, so that their faces were but
pale gleams. The others were above, fast wriggling out ofsight.
The scout apparently had no thought of the
tremendousness of thisenterprise to Tom. Life was here, and an inchaway sped
death.
The smoke of the camp fire made her eyes smart and
brought tinglingas well as hateful memories. The dawn was growing lighter and rows
of rocks ahead could bedistinguished.
If sheleaped out and ran to find she was mistaken,
she would lose everychance she had.
Her masculine garb,emphasizing her shapely
slenderness, manifestly drew the gaze ofthese men. If she had to spend muchtime
there she would be grateful for its quiet, cleanliness, andbeauty.
Tom heard Robertsanswer, but Ory Tacks was silent.
This thought sustained her in a trying moment. Crawling back seemedinterminable and
insurmountable to Tom. He had kept pebbles in his mouthtill he was sick of them. All
in a flash, then, it seemed she was the girl who hadwritten that brave letter to Tom
Doan.
Hudnall, was a courage inspired by love, notby
hope. Tom hadhimself to think of, yet he wondered if he should not help Ory. Seven
days, and then the straggling lost bands of buffalo!
Now Indians always fightharder under such
conditions.
An oldwhite-haired buffalo-hunter named Calkins had
taken Pilchucksplace on Toms right.