Міжзірковий мандрівник

           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.