Imploring mercy and begging for freedom, the fellow concluded his statement.
“You’ve told everything, have you!” Kingdom asked with as little harshness as his feelings would permit.
“Aye, master, aye—everything,” Lobb whined.
“So it was you, then, who supplied Lone-Elk with lead and bullets, and his story of a lead mine was a story and nothing more?” the boy demanded.
“I guess so. I don’t know anything about a lead mine, master. Truly I don’t know anything about it. I do remember though, come to think, that Lone-Elk said once that I was his lead mine and I must look out that the Palefaces didn’t find it out.”
“You hear that, Sergeant?” exclaimed Ree, with some excitement. “Now let us see whether that sneaking Seneca will continue to rule the Delawares!”
CHAPTER XXIV—WHO KILLED BIG BUFFALO
Even before Kingdom finished questioning the murderer, Fishing Bird had come up bringing the two woodsmen from the gully. All three were quickly informed of Lobb’s confession and of the discovery of John Jerome and the great danger surrounding him. The entire party looked to Ree for a suggestion.
“We’ve got to act and act quickly,” the lad said in a low tone. “If Fishing Bird will be our escort, I propose that we go to the Delaware town as fast as we can go. If Captain Pipe can be made to understand that Lone-Elk has deceived the Delawares in one way, we can, with Fishing Bird’s help, and Lobb’s confession, bring him to his senses about this witchcraft business.”
“Lone-Elk’s a bad ’un. He killed a Seneca and had to leave home,” put in Lobb, who had listened attentively.