I whispered: "Not yet. The Indian is here, close. I don't see Josefa. But I'm watching for a chance to get away."
The pressure of her hand answered me. Brave little Nanette!
The Indian seemed never to take his eyes from us. The automatic was ready in his hand; I could not have made a move.
Where was Josefa? If she could distract this Indian even for a moment—
Five minutes passed. Ten minutes. My mind strayed to Alan. Was he dead? In reality, Alan and the tower were at this instant materializing in the forest no more than a mile away.
Out in the river a long Indian war canoe appeared. It was heading for the cove. Its paddles gleamed rhythmically in the starlight. It landed. I saw that it was piled with moldy chests. The Indians began carrying them to the aero. The Dutchman and his wife struggled back and forth with their household effects.
Turber and Jonas were giving commands. Then I saw Josefa! She was down by the shore. She spoke to Turber. I saw him reach into a broken chest and haul forth a huge jeweled bangle. He tossed it to her and moved away.
She came toward us. I did not move. She stood by Bluntnose.
"Look what the Wolf gave me. What jewels we have now. This pleases me more than all Turber's platinum and golden wealth."
She was standing in front of Bluntnose, blocking his sight of us. He pushed her away.