"That fellow dead?" asked the Panther.
"Yes indeed!" for the man's head was split like a walnut.
The old warrior looked gratified. "Mamma," he said, touching his hunting-knife, "you take that fellow's scalp."
"Don't think of such a thing," I said, not so much shocked as I might have been had I not lived on the Indian frontier. "Do you know who they are?"
"See them to Ryan's. Guess they some folks that mizzable railroad bring into this country. 'Spect they follow me. Mamma," said the Panther, looking up into my face, "tell you, red fox not bark for nothing. Better be old man than you."
"Oh, my dear old friend, if you had only not come to us to-night! It was all your love for us that has done this, but I pray God you may get well. Charley, do you think you can go for Doctor Beach?"
"Yes, mamma," said the boy, though he turned pale.
"No, no," said the Panther. "You no send that little fellow out in the dark. Besides, no good. You go wrap yourselves up. You two, you git bad cold."
At that moment we heard the sound of wheels and horses' feet.
"Go, Charley," said Minny. "Stop whoever it is, and tell them what has happened."