The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-04-30
CHAPTER xvI--continued.
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Copyright by A. c. McClurg & &C

II
Kirby, stand up! Drop that rifle
take it, Eloise. Now raise your hands.
Tim
"Whut's up?
us there anything serious going on
outsider"
mo; nuthin' much-just pow
wowin'. Yer want me?'
SEARCH that scoundrel for weapons.
Don't ask questions; do what l say
He made short work of it. using no
gentle methods.
"Wap, the gent wasn't exactly harm
less" he reported, grinning cheerfully,
"considerin' this yere knife an cannon.
Now, maybe yen tell me whut the
his up?'
Kirby stood erect his dark eyes
searching our faces, his lips scornful.
"And perhaps, Mr. Lieutenant
Knox" he added sarcastically. "You
might condescend to explain to me
also the purpose of this outrage"
with pleasure but without lower
ing my rifle. This boy here belonged
to the company of soldiers massacred
yesterday morning. You know where |
mean. He was the only one to escape
alive, and he saw you there among the
savages-free, and one of them"
''He tells you that? And. you accept
the word of that half-wit?"
"He described your appearance to
US exactly twenty-four hours ago.
never thought of you at the time, al
though the description was accurate
enough, because it seemed so impos
sible for you to have been there. But
that isn't all, Kirby. What has become
of the emblem pin you wore in your
tie? 1t is gone, | see."
His hand went up involuntarily. 1t
is possible he had never missed it be-
fore, for look of indecision came into
the mans face-the first symptom of
weakness had ever detected there.
ut must have been lost-mislaid-"
"It was; and / chance to be able to
tell you wherein this very room.
Here is your pin, you incarnate devil
/ found it caught in those blankets
yonder. This is not your first visit to
this cabin; you were here with Indian
murderers."
"It'S a id lie"
But Kennedy had him, locked in
vlse-like grip. 1t was well he had, for
the fellow had burst into a frantic
rage, yet was bound so utterly helpless
as to appear almost pitiful. The
knowledge of what he had planned, of
his despicable treachery, left us mer-
CHESS. In spite of his struggles we
bore him to the floor, and pinned him
there, cursing and swapping like a
wild beast.
"Tear up one of those blankets"
called back over my shoulder to Hall. |
Eyes, into strips, of course; now bring
them here. Tim, you tie the fellow
yes, do good job; I'll hold him. Lie
still, Kirby, or shall have to give you
the butt of this gun in the face"
He made one last effort to break |
free, and, as my hand attempted to |
close on his throat, the clutching fing- |
ers caught the band of his shirt, and |
ripped it wide open. There directly |
before me- a scar across his hairy, ex-
posed chest, was q broad, black mark,
L,
recognizing it's significance.
"By Heaven, Tim, look at this!' 1
cried. "He is an Indian himself-a
black SacF"
= =
I do not know what delayed the
attack of the savages, unless they were
waiting for some signal which never
Io<,x i
hole, thus assuring myself not only
that they still remained, but that the
cabin was completely surrounded, al
though the manner in which the war
riors had been distributed left the
great mass of them opposite the front.
The others evidently composed a mere
guard to prevent escape. No move
ment ! could observe indicated an i'm
assault; they rather appeared
to be awaiting something.
Those I saw were all dismounted,
and had advanced toward the cabin as
closely as possible without coming
within the range of guns. They had
also sheltered themselves as far as
possible behind clumps of brush, or
=
cult to estimate their number. Only
would venturesome
warrior appear for a moment in the I
open, as he glided stealthily from the J
protection of one covert to another.
No doubt some were brought within l
range of our rifles, as these efforts I
we're usually made to more advanced I
positions, but / forbade firing, in the !
vague hope that, not hearing from
Kirby, the chiefs might become dis e
and draw off without risking v
In open attack. 10
This was more a desperate hope, Y
'ather than any real faith possessed.
3eyond doubt the Indian chief knew, r
,r thought he knew, our exact strength t
'efore he consented to use his war
Tors ia this assault n
If the band had trailed US to this b
Pot, 1t had been done through the b