For a moment, although none of the watchful observers was able to discover the cause, the herald remained silent. Reuben, who was deeply interested in the exciting event, now saw, approaching from the village, a young squaw. Just what was her purpose in coming was not apparent.
The herald began his speech. “We shall no longer protect the men for whom the white brothers have come,” he explained. “We did not ask them to come to our village. They were in trouble and they sought us out. We would punish them for the evil they did to the good padre, but now that the padre’s men have come to take back to the mission the men who have done evil, we shall no longer try to hold them in our village. The brothers of the padre when they see the evildoers coming forth from our village will not then make any more attacks upon us.”
The spokesman paused as if he was waiting for Carson to respond to his implied question. As the hunter remained silent, the Indian herald continued his appeal. “Already we have children that are fatherless because the white men have killed our braves. You can hear the wailing of the squaws whose husbands and sons you have slain. Is not this enough punishment for the white men to visit upon us? We shall no longer try to shield those who fled to us for refuge.”
“Will you give us every one?” demanded Kit Carson abruptly.
“Every one,” replied the Indian.
“Then tell them to come out to us now.”
The Indian turned back toward the village and then, abruptly halting, once more faced the scout. “And will my white brother promise that no harm shall befall us? That he will take the bad Indians only? Will he promise that they shall be dealt with justly, and that no harm shall come to them on their way back to the mission?”
“I make no promises except to tell you that every man will be treated as he deserves.”
“That’s just the very thing they don’t want,” muttered Jack, who had been listening as he stood opposite Reuben. “If they got what they deserved there wouldn’t be many left in the village.”
“I’m afraid there wouldn’t be very many left among us either,” suggested Reuben quietly.