“I insist.”
“No. I must be free myself to act in this other matter I speak of. If I see a chance to run off the girl while you fellows are handling the outlaws, I must do so.”
“And leave us for a redskin?”
“That is it,” returned Cody seriously. “My duty is first to her at this time.”
“But that is nonsense, man! People of a blood should stick together. Let the red squaw go.”
“She’s got white blood in her better than either yours or mine, sir!” snapped the scout.
“Oh! she’s a half-breed?”
“She is. But I am not here to discuss White Antelope. Time is passing. I will advise you to the best of my ability in this fight; but I cannot accept the responsibility of command.”
“All I can do, then, is to rouse up the other boys and make ready to receive boarders.”
“But there is more than one way of doing that,” said Cody, with a smile which the other did not see in the dark tent.