Wild shouts of pleasure welcomed Timon Moss back to the Indian town. Tawny arms instantly caught his nether-limbs, and the overjoyed Indians would have jerked him from the saddle if he had not commanded them to desist. He shook the Indians off, and addressed them in a tone which caused the drums to cease beating.
He told them that the cargo of whisky intended for them had been seized by a lot of whites, and destroyed. In words that drew a smile to Gopher Gid's lips, he declared that he had fought to the bitter end, only to be overpowered after slaying some of the assailants; that he had escaped even while the noose was dangling over his head.
All this was received with shouts of triumph by the eager listeners, and when he turned his face upon Gid, the boy thought his time had come.
“I'm not goin' to give yer away,” his lips whispered. “Ye wouldn't see the sun-dance ef I did.”
Then he turned upon the Indians, and waved his hand toward the captive boy.
“The boy is Squattin' B'ar's!” he said. “His skin is white, but the Sioux will respect it because it is tied to the white chief's. The fire-water is gone, but it will soon flow in the big village. Whar's Red Cloud, Settin' Sun, an' the other chiefs?”
“Red Cloud has gone to the forts to talk to the blue-coats. Setting Sun is here. While our brother is away, the one thousand lodges of the Sioux are under Setting Sun,” continued the chief, with the haughty dignity of a king. “Squatting Bear and his little white have travelled long, Let them seek food and rest. The dancing square is not yet ready for the sun-dance. For three days our people have fasted; to-morrow the dance begins, and after that the great feast. Squatting Bear may eat, for he is our brother by adoption.”
Tanglefoot turned to Gid.
“Come, boy,” he said, “I've got a lodge hyar, an' we'll satisfy the inner man. To-morrow the fun begins.”
The Indians at once perceived that the whisky-smuggler was on the point of leaving, and began to make way. Setting Sun stepped aside, and said in an undertone—