The paper saved his life, for all were curious to see what this long official envelope contained. It occurred to one of the men in the circle to investigate.
“Hold on, boys! Wait a minute! This may be a courier. Be quiet now till I see.”
He took the envelope and opened the paper while the crowd waited. “Read it Lannon.”
Lannon read in a loud voice: “I am Howling Wolf. Long I hated the white man. Now my heart is good.”
A burst of derisive laughter interrupted the reader.
“Oh, is it!”
“Kill the old fool for luck!”
“Lynch him.”
But, though they laughed at it, the letter cooled the excitement of the crowd, and when the sheriff came he had no trouble in arresting Howling Wolf, who went willingly, for he feared for his life in the face of the crowd in the street—which grew greater each moment.
He recoiled sharply as they came to the door of the jail. He knew what that meant. “I will not go!” he said. “Why do you put me in there? I have done nothing.”