"How, Al Briscoe," replied the Indian, still without moving.
A rush of indignation suddenly swept over Al as he remembered who this man was.
"Ask him," said he, sharply, to the scout, "where my brother is."
He was determined to learn at least this much before anything could happen to prevent.
The question was repeated, but Te-o-kun-ko did not reply immediately. At length he said, through the interpreter,
"You are bold for a boy, Al Briscoe. Do you hold your life of no value that you demand your brother now, when you are in my power?"
"I hold his life of more value than my own, Te-o-kun-ko," replied Al, stoutly. "Would you not feel the same for your brother?"
The Indian flashed a look at him which seemed almost one of sympathy.
"Yes," said he, and paused. Presently he went on, "If you were not brave you would not be worthy of such a brother. But I knew that you were brave the day I took him from you beyond the Yellow Medicine, and I knew it better eleven suns ago when you came after me like a hungry wolf under the shadow of Tahkahokuty. So I will tell you."
He paused again, as if reflecting, then continued in the following words, uttering them deliberately, and they were interpreted, phrase after phrase, by the Sioux scout: