“Is he armed?” Albumblatt inquired, and was told yes.
Augustus considered the peaked cone tent. The opening was on this side, but a canvas drop closed it. Not much of a problem—one man inside a sack with eight outside to catch him! But the books gave no rule for this combination, and Augustus had met with nothing of the sort in Germany. He considered at some length. Smoke began to rise through the meeting poles of the tepee, leisurely and natural, and one of the chiefs said:
“Maybe Ute Jack cooking. He hungry.”
“This is not a laughing matter,” said Augustus to the by-standers, who were swiftly gathering. “Tell him that I command him to surrender,” he added to the agent, who shouted this forthwith; and silence followed.
“Tell him I say he must come out at once,” said Augustus then; and received further silence.
“He eat now,” observed the chief. “Can't talk much.”
“Sergeant Casey,” bellowed Albumblatt, “go over there and take him out!”
“The Lootenant understands,” said Casey, slowly, “that Ute Jack has got the drop on us, and there ain't no getting any drop on him.”
“Sergeant, you will execute your orders without further comment.”
At this amazing step the silence fell cold indeed; but Augustus was in command.