DOWN!
Meanwhile Tim Brophy found himself in the hottest quarters of his life.
Inspired by the same desperate thought of his friend, he strove, with
all the energy he possessed, to widen the space between himself and his
pursuers. Less fleet of foot than they, it took but a few seconds to
show him the hopelessness of the task.
None of the trees was large enough to give protection to his body, but
seeing no rocks that could serve him, he dodged behind the first trunk
that presented itself. This was barely six inches in diameter, and was
no better than nothing at all.
Pausing but a moment, he leaped away again, with that wild, aimless
impulse which comes over one when panic-stricken. The halt, brief though
it was, proved fatal. His pursuer was on his heels, and the brave youth
turned at bay. As if fate was against him, when he attempted to bring
his rifle to a level, he made a slip and it dropped from his grasp. He
had no time to pick it up.
"S'render! s'render!" called his foe in good English, waving his right
hand aloft with his gun grasped in it.
"I'll surrender, ye spalpeen!"
Resorting like a flash to nature's weapons, the Irishman delivered a
blow straight from the shoulder, which sent the Sioux spinning backward
with his feet pointing toward the sky.
Had he been the only foe to contend with, Tim might have saved himself,
for the savage was utterly "knocked out," and the opportunity to finish
him could not have been better.
Tim had his revolver, but in his excitement he forgot the important
fact. He was about to leap upon his prostrate enemy, with the intention
of snatching his gun from him and using it, when the other two Sioux
burst to view.
Without waiting for them to assail him, the youth dashed forward like a
panther at bay.
Before the foremost could elude the assault, he struck him as fairly as
he had hit the other, and he sprawled on his back, with the breath
driven from his body.
But the impetus of his blow carried Tim forward, and, half tripping in
his headlong rush, he fell on his hands and knees. He strove frantically
to save himself, but, before he could struggle to his feet, the other
Sioux dealt him a stroke with the butt of his gun which laid the fellow
helpless on his face.
The skull of the Irishman, however, was tough, and he quickly recovered,
but not before several other warriors appeared on the scene.
For one moment the young rancher meditated a rush upon them, and had
actually doubled his fists for that purpose, but even in his fury he
perceived the folly of such a course. If he assailed the Sioux, they
would quickly finish him then and there, while the fact of their having
spared his life thus far proved that they did not intend to put him to
instant death.
It was with singular emotions that he recognized among the last arrivals
the Carlisle student Starcus, who had saved his life the preceding
morning by his timely shot when the grizzly bear was upon him. The
presence of the "civilized" youth among the hostiles told its own story.
"Ye've got me foul," said Tim, looking straight at Starcus as he spoke;
"and now ye may do wid me what ye loikes."
Starcus, knowing the words and look were meant for him, made no answer,
but kept in the background.
He was grim and silent. Who shall say what thoughts were stirring his
heart at that trying moment! He had sat with this youth at the table of
George Starr and his family.
He had partaken of their hospitality, and had claimed to possess the
civilization which he was anxious his own race should adopt, but here he
was, taking part in the pursuit and attack of two youths who not only
had never done him harm, but had always acted the part of friends toward
him.
There was one curious fact (and yet, perhaps it was not so curious after
all) which was evident to the captured youth. The Sioux admired the
brave fight he had made for himself. Trained for ages to regard physical
prowess as above all virtues, the American race cannot fail to revere
it, even when they are the sufferers therefrom.
The warrior who had first felt the weight of Tim's fist now began
clambering to his feet. He was dazed and bewildered, for the blow was a
terrific one. Landing squarely in his face, it had brought considerable
crimson, which, mingling with the daubs of paint already there, gave him
a frightful appearance.
He assumed the upright posture, and standing uncertainly for a few
seconds, fixed his eyes on the prisoner.
Then grasping the situation, and recognizing him as the individual that
had treated him so harshly, he suddenly emitted a shout, whipped out his
hunting-knife, and rushed at him like a fury. Tim instantly threw
himself into a pugilistic attitude, and no doubt would have given a good
account of himself had he been permitted, for he was skilled in the art
of self-defence, and such a person always has the advantage over a foe,
no matter what his weapon, provided it is not a firearm.
But the collision did not take place. Three Indians interposed,
restraining the fierce red man; among the foremost being Starcus, who
roughly seized the upraised arm and forced the warrior back several
steps, using some strong words in his own language. The savage strove to
free himself that he might attack the youth, but he was not permitted,
and finally gave up the effort and withdrew sullenly into the
background.
This incident was hardly over, when the second warrior that had gone
down before the young Irishman's prowess also gained his feet. He looked
as if he would very much like to try conclusions again, with the aid of
one of his weapons, but he seemed to think he could bide his time, and
have it out on a more fitting occasion.
The captive was too wise to place a favorable construction on the
interference of Starcus, despite the additional fact of his kindly
offices of the morning. The rest of the Sioux had shown a wish to take
him prisoner, for certainly the chance to bring him down had been theirs
more than once. Actuated by their intense hatred of the white race, they
looked upon sudden death as too merciful to a foe that had done them so
much ill. He had slain one of their best men, and knocked prostrate two
others; no punishment, therefore, was too cruel to be visited upon him.
While the group stood about the helpless captive they talked in their
own language, without Tim being able to guess the meaning of a word
uttered. He watched the countenances closely, and was surprised a minute
or two later by the appearance of the last member of the party. He came
straggling up as though he felt no concern in the proceedings. That
which interested Tim the most was the sight of his valued Winchester in
the fellow's hand. For one moment the youth thought he meant to hand it
over to him, but that would have been a stretch of hospitality of which
none of his race could ever be guilty. He did a rare thing for an
Indian--indulged in a grin of pleasure at the prize which his
companions had passed by to allow it to fall into his possession.
In his trying situation, Tim Brophy could not avoid a feeling of
curiosity concerning Starcus. To him the fellow's conduct was
inexplicable. While his presence among the Sioux was proof that he was
"with them" in thought, intention, and feeling, yet there was the
friendly act of the morning during the struggle with the grizzly, and
his late interference to prevent the warrior from injuring him, which
united to puzzle the captive.
As has been said, he was too wise to build much hope on these facts, but
nevertheless they raised doubts and questions relating wholly to the
future.
Would Starcus continue to hold his present enmity to the people that had
been friendly to him?
While he had been carried away by the frenzy that had driven so many of
his people out of their senses, was not an awakening likely to take
place, when his better nature would resume control? Could he forget
that he had eaten salt with this hapless fellow, and stand by, without
raising hand or voice, when his extremity should come, as come it must,
in a very brief while?
But these were questions that Tim Brophy could not answer; they must be
left for the immediate future.