“You have my girl over there, and if you’ll give her up, we’ll let you and your pards go, providing you agree to return to Fort Sill and not go back to Sun Dance.”
Wah-coo-tah, crouching behind the stones, put out her hands and caught the scout’s arm imploringly.
“No, no!” she breathed.
“You want to sell the girl to some other buck for five ponies, eh?” called Buffalo Bill, in a tone of contempt.
“It’s none of your business what I want to do. She’s a fiery jade, and there’s no living in the same lodge with her. Will you give her up?”
“Certainly not. She doesn’t want to go back to you.”
“I can make you give her up,” stormed Lawless. “The officers at Fort Sill, if I laid the case before them, would force you to turn the girl over to her people.”
“You’ll not lay the case before the officers at Sill,” taunted the scout; “they’d like mighty well to have you come there and try it. You’re a pretty sort of man to have charge of a girl like Wah-coo-tah!”
“For the last time”—and Lawless’ voice shook with rage—“are you going to let me have my daughter?”
“And for the last time. No!” roared the scout.