The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-05-13

J an answering protest. To all appear
ances he was as eager rs We in the
preparations for defense. But he could
not command him to ever address the
fellow would have been torture, for
even then I was without faith, with
out confidence. The very sneaking,
cowardly way in which he acted did
not appeal to me al natural. I could
not deny his story-those approaching
Indians alone were proof that he fled
from a real danger; and yet-and yet,
to my mind he could not represent
anything but treachery. I possessed
but one desire-to kick the cringing
cur. .@
I stood at q loophole watching the
approaching savages. They had halted
just below the big tree, and four or
five half hidden by the huge trunk,
were in consultation, we'll beyond rife
shot. Assured by their attitude that
the attack would not be made immedi-
ately, I ventured to turn my face
slightly, and take final survey of the
room behind. Tim had stationed him.
self at the other side of the door, his
eyes glued to a narrow opening. both
hands gripped on his gun. Eloise and
the colored girl, the n dry-eyed and
alert, the other prone/on the floor cry
ing, were where I had told them to
60, into the darkest corner. The boy
/ did not see, o eve remember, but
Kirby stood on the bench, which en-
abled him to peer out through the
loop-hole in the window shutter. What
I noticed, however, was, that instead
Of keeping watch without, his eyes
were furtively wandering about the
room, and, when they suddenly en-
countered mine, were as instantly
averted.
"Where was it you met those In
dams, Kirby?' 1 questioned sternly.
"Down the valley"
Last night"
'"This morning; they surprised us in
camp"
I'm camp! there were others with
you, then. Who were they7 the party
you had trailing usT"
Eyes," a decidedly sullen tone creep
ing into his voice. Five of them; one
was a Winnebago."
"And Rale was along, I presume.
What became of the othersY'
He shook his head, but with no show
of feeling.
'"That's more than / know. Things
were hot enough for me without both
ering about the rest. T never saw any
of them again, except Rale. He was
killed in the fight. About an hour
after that I shot the buck who was
guarding me, and got away on his
horse"
What Indians were they?"
"Sacs mostly; some Foxes, and may
be a Winnebago or two"
"Was Black Hawk with them?"
II don't know never saw Black
Hawk"
I felt firmly convinced that he was
deliberately lying, and yet there was
nothing in his story which might not
be true. No doubt it was prejudice,
personal hatred, and distrust which led
me to come to this conclusion. Well,
true or not, ! meant to see that he
fought now. 70. -
""All right, but I advise you to keep
your eyes outside" I said sternly.
Don't be staring about the cabin any
more"
II was looking for something to
eat"
IT'S that so? Well, you better stand
it for awhile without eating. What is
it, Eloise?"
"Please let me hand him some food?"
hesitated, conscious that l disliked
even the thought of her serving the
fellow in. any way, yet unable to resist
the eage8 plea in her eyes.
Every well, if you wish to; only
keep down out Of range; those Indians
may try for the loopholes. 1t is more
than you deserve, Kirby"
He made NO response, and l watched
him closely as he endeavored to eat
what she proffered him, and felt con-
WINGED that it was hard work. The
man had lied about being hungry; he
was not in need of food, and my deep
rooted suspicion Il him only famed
up anew.
A hand gripped at my sleeve timidly,
and I turned quickly to encounter the
eyes of Asa Hall. Never did I read
such depth of fear in the expression
of any FACET was the wild, unreason-
ing terror Of an animal.
"What is it, my boy?"
TITS him, seh," he whispered, his
lips trembling SO 1 could scarce catch
the words. "Thet Teller thar. He's
he's the one I saw las night with Black
Hawk"
Are you. sureg"
Eyes, sch; I know him. I saw him
plain as I do now" a
/ do not know why, but every bit of
evidence against the man came in
M,&;S;