“Who is she?”
“White Antelope, the daughter of old Oak Heart, the Sioux chieftain.”
“Oh, thunder! a squaw!” exclaimed the captain of the train crew in disgust.
“She’s just as precious to the old redskin as the daughter of a white man is to him, I s’pose,” said the scout sternly. “Besides, her release means a great deal to me—and to Major Baldwin of Fort Advance—and, perhaps, to the entire white settlers of this part of the country.”
“Well, well! I can’t afford to quarrel with you over a red squaw,” said the other lightly. “You help us, and we’ll help you.”
“I am here for the purpose of helping you,” said the Border King, with some stiffness of manner, for the other’s tone had jarred upon him.
CHAPTER XLI.
“ON GUARD!”
“First of all,” said the captain of the freighters, “I want you to take command, Cody, as I said.”
“No, no!” the scout hastened to reply. “I would not take that upon myself.”