Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 13
JedandIspenthalfanhourtryingtocountthem,andconcluded,withmuchguessing,thattheremustbeatleastacoupleofhundred.Also,wesawwhitemenwiththemanddoingagreatdealoftalking.
North-eastofourtrain,notmorethanfourhundredyardsfromit,wediscoveredalargecampofwhitesbehindalowriseofground.Andbeyondwecouldseefiftyorsixtysaddle-horsesgrazing.Andamileorsoaway,tothenorth,wesawatinycloudofdustapproaching.JedandIwaiteduntilwesawasingleman,ridingfast,gallopintothecampofthewhites.
Whenwegotbackintothecorralthefirstthingthathappenedtomewasasmackfrommotherforhavingstayedawaysolong;butfatherpraisedJedandmewhenwegaveourreport.
“Watchforanattacknowmaybe,Captain,”AaronCochranesaidtofather.“Thatmantheboysseenhasridinforapurpose.ThewhitesareholdingtheIndianstilltheygetordersfromhigherup.Maybethatmanbrungtheordersonewayortheother.Theyain’tsparinghorseflesh,that’sonethingsure.”
HalfanhourafterourreturnLabanattemptedascoutunderawhiteflag.ButhehadnotgonetwentyfeetoutsidethecirclewhentheIndiansopenedfireonhimandsenthimbackontherun.
JustbeforesundownIwasintheriflepitholdingthebaby,whilemotherwasspreadingtheblanketsforabed.
