We have said that Red Wolf, the would-be assassin, fell by the bullet of his rifle.
With his hand upon the trigger, and in the very act of sending this wretch to his account, a thought had flashed across young Rody’s mind, which made his aim more certain.
Let us explain.
Nelatu said that Red Wolf had spoken wicked words of Sansuta and of Warren.
The very conjunction of their names supplied the calumny.
Nelatu spoke truly; but what he did not know was, that the wretch who paid the forfeit of his life for his foul speech was only the dupe of Nelatu’s own friend, Warren Rody.
Red Wolf, an idle, drunken scamp, had been a fit instrument in Rody’s hands to be employed as a messenger between him and the Indian girl.
For these services Red Wolf received repeated compensation in gold.
But the old story of the bad master becoming discontented with a bad servant was true in this case.
Warren was afraid that Red Wolf would, in one of his drunken orgies, talk too much, and betray the secret with which he had entrusted him.