“Walt was about the first to start, too. Did you notice that?”
“He’ll get into trouble, I’m afraid.”
“He didn’t even have a saddle on his horse,” said Joseph. “I noticed lots of the others that way, too. I never saw men in such a hurry.”
As they stood and watched their companions bear down upon the messengers, grave fears arose in the hearts of the two brothers. They did not care for their Indian foes any more than did the other men, but they believed in playing the game fairly. They knew how high an Indian’s sense of honor was and they feared for the result if these hot-headed rangers should do violence to Black Hawk’s messengers. Long association with Deerfoot had taught them that an Indian never forgets an injury done him any more than he does a kindness.
Meanwhile, the mob of riders had swooped down upon the astonished messengers. Surrounding the three Indians they shouted and waved their arms and urged the braves on until they came into camp. Here more of the volunteers swarmed around the envoys, and yells and imprecations sounded on all sides. Major Stillman did his utmost to put an end to the confusion and to quiet the hubbub. Standing in the center of the howling mob of men he tried to speak. The three Indians sat on their ponies at a loss to account for this demonstration and evidently were worried as to their own safety.
“My men,” began Major Stillman, “these three messengers have come to us under a flag of truce. It is one of the rules of warfare that any bearer of a white flag is to be treated with respect. So far——”
The report of a rifle suddenly rang out, cutting short the words of the speaker. One of the Indians pitched forward on his horse. He clutched convulsively at the bridle in an effort to save himself, but his attempt was of no avail. The horse plunged and reared, and the rider, slipping from his place, fell to the ground, dead. Some one of the volunteers had treacherously murdered one of the messengers.
Immediately pandemonium broke loose. Confusion reigned before, but it was nothing compared to the din that now arose. Men shouted and ran in all directions, horses reared and kicked, orders were given, but no one paid any attention to them. The men were stunned by what had happened and by the time some semblance of order had been restored the two remaining messengers were seen galloping at full speed across the prairie in the direction from which they had come.
“There they go!” shouted Walt, who had been in the thick of things all this time. He quickly jumped for his horse, and, followed by several score of the rangers, immediately started in hot pursuit of the two fleeing Indians.
“Come on, Joe, we might as well go too,” called Robert excitedly and a moment later the two brothers, closely followed by Deerfoot, were also speeding across the prairie after the excited horsemen.