按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 36…
LAHOMA
a mighty nice big sun on YOU！'〃
Thus admonishing himself； and striving desperately for contentment；
he strode forth from the only exit of the cove； and skirted the southern
wall of the range； looking for game。 It was late in the afternoon when he
returned with the best portions of a deer swung over his shoulder。 By this
time he was desperately hungry； and the prospect of the first venison since
his exile stirred his pulses； and gave to the bright scene a cheerful beauty it
had not before worn to his homesick heart。 He trudged up to the narrow
door of the dugout which was closed； just as he had left it； and having
carried a noble haunch of venison to the pool to be washed； he descended
the dirt steps and set the door to one side。 Without at first understanding
why； he became instantly aware that some one had been there during his
absence。
Of course； as soon as his eyes could penetrate the semi…gloom
sufficiently to distinguish small objects； he saw the proof； but even before
that； the air seemed tingling with some strange personality。 He stood like a
statue； gazing fixedly。 His alert eyes； always on guard； had assured him
that the cove was deserted… …there was no use to look behind him。
Whoever had been there must have scaled the mountain； and had either
crossed to the plain on the north； or was hiding behind the rocks。 What
held his eyes to the stove was a heap of tobacco； and a clay pipe beside it。
Among the stores removed from the wagon； tobacco had been found in
generous quantity； but during the month now elapsed； bad been sadly
reduced。 Willock； however； was not pleased to find the new supply； on the
contrary his emotions were confused and alarmed。 Had the tobacco been
ten times as much； it could not have solaced him for the knowledge that
the dugout had been visited。
After a few minutes of immobility； he entered； placed the meat on a
box； and departed softly； closing the door behind him。 Casting
apprehensive glances along the mountainside； he stole toward it； and made
his way up the gully； completely hidden by the straggling line of trees and
underbrush； till he stood on the summit。 He approached each ridge with
extreme caution； as if about to storm the barricade of an enemy； thus he
traveled over the range without coming on the traces of his mysterious
36
… Page 37…
LAHOMA
visitor。 Not pausing at the crevice； he went on to the outer northern ridge
of the range； and lying flat among some high rocks； looked down。
He counted seventeen men near the spot from which he had removed
the wagon。 Fifteen were on horseback and two riderless horses explained
the presence of the two on foot。 All of them had drawn up in a circle about
the heap of stones that covered the woman's burial…place。 Of the seventeen；
sixteen were Indians； painted and adorned for the war…path。 The remaining
man； he who stood at the heap of stones beside the chief； was a white man；
and at the first glance； Willock recognized him； he was the dead woman's
husband； Henry Gledware。
Brick's mind was perplexed with vain questionings： Was it Gledware
who had visited his dugout； or the Indians？ Did the pipe and tobacco
indicate a peace…offering？ What was the relationship between Gledware
and these Indians？ Was he their prisoner； and were they about to burn him
upon the heap of stones？ He did not seem alarmed。 Had he made friends
with the chief by promising to conduct him to the deserted wagon？ If so；
what would they think in regard to the wagon's disappearance？ Had the
dugout persuaded them that there was no other retreat in the mountains？
While Brick watched in agitated suspense； several Indians leaped to
the ground at a signal from the chief and advanced toward the white man。
The chief turned his back upon the company； and started toward the
mountain； his face turned toward Brick's place of observation。 He began
climbing upward； the red feather in his hair gleaming against the green of
the cedars。 Brick had but to remain where he was； to reach forth his hand
presently and seize the warriorbut in that case； those on the plain would
come swarming up the ascent for vengeance。
Brick darted from his post； swept like a dipping swallow across the
ravine； and snatching up the rope…ladder from its nook under the boulder；
scurried down into the granite chamber。 Having removed the ladder； he
crept to the extremity of the excavation； and with his back against the wall
and his gun held in readiness； awaited the coming of the chief。 After the
lapse of many minutes he grew reassured； the Indian； thinking the dugout
his only home； had passed the crevice without the slightest suspicion。
However； lest in thrusting forth his head； he call attention to his home
37
… Page 38…
LAHOMA
in the rock； he kept in retreat the rest of that day； nor did he venture forth
that night。 After all； the housewarming did not take place。 The stove
remained cold； the tobacco and pipe upon it were undisturbed； and the
evening meal consisted notably of plums。
38
… Page 39…
LAHOMA
CHAPTER VII
RED FEATHER
One bright warm afternoon in October two years later； Brick Willock
sat smoking his pipe before the open door of his dugout； taking advantage
of the mountain…shadow that had just reached that spot。 In repose； he
always sat； when in the cove； with his face toward the natural roadway
leading over the flat hill…island into the farther reach of the horseshoe。 It
was thus he hoped to prevent surprise from inimical horsemen； and it was
thus that； on this particular afternoon； he detected a shadow creeping over
the reddish…brown stone passage before its producing cause rode suddenly
against the background of the blue sky。
At first glimpse of that shadow of a feathered head； Willock flung
himself down the dirt steps leading to the open door； now； lying flat； he
directed the barrel of his gun over the edge of the level ground； covering
an approaching hor