STANDING AT BAY
And now through the dusk of the coulee the Indians advanced toward the
Throat. Single file, they came, their leader a stalwart brave who ran
unsteadily.
But, of a sudden, they brought up and retreated, tripping back upon one
another over rubble and bowlder, and giving out startled oaths. Then
they halted, a score of dim, crowding figures.
Beyond the Throat showed a patch of sky, swiftly brightening with the
dawn. Against that patch, thrust up by a ragged arm, was a twirling gun.
There was a parley, while the oaths became a jumble of protests,
haranguing, and threats.
Presently Standing Buffalo could be heard above the rest. "They are only
women. Let us take them and be on!"
At this, all started forward, but warily. As sudden as before, they
stopped.
Against the light, for a second time, a ragged arm had shot up. Now at
its top was a sinew-backed bow.
The Indians were amazed. One of their kind defending the women? They
snorted in rage.
As they jostled, stretching this way and that, the arm began slowly to
brandish the bow, and in a manner to announce that the holder desired
single combat.
Standing Buffalo went forward in a bound. "I clear the way," he cried
vauntingly to his brothers; to the one before, "Who fears? Come out." He
loosened the arrows in his quiver.
The challenger came--a stooping figure in squaw's dress.
The sight of him fairly rooted the young chief. "The Squaw!" His voice
was furious.
Behind, a great laugh went up. And, as though there was no longer a need
either to respect or fear the signals of the one who barred their path,
the whole band charged.
A little to one side of The Squaw, a gun spoke--right into their midst.
A brave screamed, catching at his thigh. The others wavered and fell
back beyond rifle reach, taking him with them.
The stooping figure in squaw's dress signed once more for single combat.
Lame Foot addressed his brothers. "We delay too long," he cautioned.
"Standing Buffalo, go forward and slay the she-skunk, and let us
hasten."
Standing Buffalo waved his bow aloft. "I do so," he promised. "But you,
Medicine-Giver, must hold me clean of shame for fighting a squaw!" Then,
to the outcast, "Come out, coffee-cooler, and die." He halved the
distance between him and the Throat.
Squaw Charley approached him watchfully, setting a shaft in place. His
face seemed all eyes--eyes burning with a fierce joy. Standing Buffalo
fitted an arrow. Both raised their bows.
Behind the chief came calls of derision and execration. Behind the
outcast came a voice, clear and steady: "Careful, Charley, _careful_."
To and fro, the contestants were stealing, noiselessly, on the alert,
each striving to get the other in a favourable light.
A minute, another--then Standing Buffalo bent his knees, drew and shot.
But the arrow veered a trifle from its intended course.
The Squaw drew. The cord sang. The shaft whistled to its mark.
It drove the chief backward a few paces like a wounded buck. Then,
stopping himself with effort, he lurched forward again. As he came, he
raised his bow and sent a second arrow that cut the bushes on the canyon
side.
The shaft was his last. His face went suddenly livid, his eyeballs
started; drivelling, he clutched at the air--tipped down to his
hands--touched--let go his weapon--half-rose--pivoted on a heel, and
slipped in a heap to the stones.
A wordless cry broke from the lips of The Squaw. He sped across the
coulee-bottom to the side of the dead chief. There he struck the fallen
man a blow upon the bare knee, snatched from his head an eagle feather,
daubed it across the flowing wound, and thrust it dripping red into his
own hair.
Then, as he had not done in years, he straightened. Then he cast from
him the foul rags of his squaw's dress. And in clout and the colours of
death, he stood forth--a warrior!
"I count a coup--Red Moon!" he cried.
Howls--from a watching band that had been struck dumb.
"A coup, I--Red Moon. Come on, you dogs--you that called me dog. Come
on, you squaws that called me squaw. Come on, and a warrior will fight
you, one by one!"
Before him, more howls, and a bluster of Uncapapa. Behind the voice
again: "Charley! Charley!"
And now Red Moon leaped back to resume his stand. With his turning, the
band drew after, sending a shower of arrows.
At the Throat he faced them again.
"Braves!" he laughed mockingly. "_Dogs_--that fight like dogs, a pack
against one!"
Now he shot, swift and unerringly. Here one flattened; there, another; a
third broke his jaw upon a stone. Till from their midst flew the missile
of Big Ox, hard-driven, straight. Quivering, it buried its deadly point
in Red Moon's breast.
Deafening whoops echoed in the narrow canyon, drowning the hoof-beats of
a nearing horse.
Red Moon answered them. He was swaying to and fro, like a cypress limb
in a great wind. He lifted his face to the sky until his crimson
scalp-feather drooped; flung back his hair, and clapped palm to mouth in
a war-cry.
Then his bow flew from his hand as his arms spread out--spread out as if
seeking something upon which to lean. He sank to his knees, chanting the
death-song of the Sioux.
"Charley! Charley!" It was a wail.
Not his voice, but another's, answered: "Dallas! Where are you?"
The Indians heard the call. Catching up wounded and dead, they fell
back.
Dallas, shielded no longer, yet forgetful of danger and self, ran
forward to where Red Moon knelt. Even as she reached him, he could kneel
no longer. He toppled sideways, then straightened upon his back.
But now the band was coming back toward Dallas, on their way to the
Throat. Their purpose was thwarted. Before Dallas was reached, a man
blocked the narrow passage, and two revolvers, barking a staccato,
spread panic among them. They turned to the walls, looking for a place
to scale. From there came tramping and shouts, and they saw, over them,
at either side, a line of downward-pointing guns!
Huddling together, the centre of a complete surround, wounded and
unwounded cast aside their bows and flung up their hands in the peace
sign.
"Give 'em hell, boys!" screamed a trooper.
But the trumpet interfered.
Close to the Throat was a group that had neither eyes nor ears for the
capture. Here was the warrior, Red Moon, calm-faced, bearing his agony
bravely, choking back even a murmur of pain. Over him were Lounsbury and
Dallas, bent for a final look and word.
"Dear old fellow," murmured Lounsbury. "You gave 'em a good fight
to-day. You saved her."
The surgeon was beside them now, hastily examining. The shaft was not in
the wound; it had fallen. But the poisoned barb remained. He shook his
head.
"No use, John," he whispered, and tiptoed away.
Lounsbury leaned farther down. "Charley," he said, "you're going now,
old man. Say good-by to us."
The Indian moved one hand feebly.
Lounsbury understood. He lifted and shook it gently. "Brave Red Moon,"
he said.
The savagery was all gone from the Indian's eyes; they were wonderfully
soft and un-Indian in their expression. He seemed, all at once, to be
thinking of something far off. And his look was adoring.
Dallas could not speak to him, but she, too, shook him gently by the
hand.
He settled his head upon Lounsbury's arm, as a child might have done.
Then he looked up at Dallas. "Friend--friend," he whispered softly,
smiled, and with the touch of the sun on his upturned face, he slept.