“Well, where’s your proof?”
“That fust attempt to kidnap Miss Bryant; the meetin’ affair at Wildwood lake; the kapter of the two gals; the affair at Two Islands, and the ferry-boat surprise, are all the proof that I want,” said Old Tumult; “and, furthermore, our carcasses is mixed up in it some way ’r other; and now mind, unless we look sharp, that ’ere boy ’ll play the deuce with us to-night.”
“You really surprise me, Tumult.”
“And I could surprise ye more if I’d tell o’ the diskivery that I’ve made.”
“Why not tell it?”
The scout was silent. Town. repeated the question.
“You’d feel more like shootin’ me than thankin’ me fur the infurmation,” returned Old Tumult.
Town. laughed, though his mind was perplexed.
“Howsumever,” continued the old scout, “I might as well tell it, fur you’re bound to know it sooner or later. The fact is, this mornin’ I diskivered that Rollo, the ranger, and—”
Here he broke abruptly off, for a shadow fell across his vision. He seized his rifle and sprung to his feet, and found himself confronted by a tall, powerful Sioux Indian, whom he at once recognized as Mahaska, chief of the Sioux tribe!