“You’re crazy, Joe! I tell you I won’t, and he can’t make me! I shall stay here with you—and Felicia.”
Again the Indian shook his head.
“Steady Hand him strong mind; make you do way him want,” asserted the old fellow positively. “Him have strength to do so in him eye. Him know way to do it.”
The face of the boy paled now, for he placed implicit confidence in anything the old Indian said.
“Then I’ll kill myself!” he panted, springing up. “I won’t let him boss me! I’ll kill myself first!”
“Down,” said Old Joe, with a gesture, and, all unconscious that he was obeying a master, the boy dropped to the ground again.
For some moments the aged Indian was silent, looking fixedly at the lad.
“Mebbe it be better,” he said.
“What are you talking about?” demanded Dick. “Maybe what will be better?”
“For you to do same Steady Hand want.”