He delivered himself of this remark with more emphasis than he had yet used; then sat down, pulling his blanket around him; and not another word would he speak, save a few guttural sentences in his own language to his wife, who was now called in once more. The scowl remained on his forehead, and Kittie whispered to Bess that she saw him eying the windows and their fastenings.
Moll was now sharply questioned, but with no better result. She had seen the gold watch-chain, she admitted, when the girls first reached the tent. It was dangling from her pocket—pointing to Kittie!
“O,” cried Kittie, “but that’s impossible, for I haven’t any watch nor chain myself, and I never even touched Pet’s but once, and that was the day we all got here and she was showing it to aunt.”
Mr. Percival looked grave; the sheriff shut one eye knowingly; the girls edged off, half-scared, after Kittie had spoken. Moll alone appeared to retain her perfect self-possession.
“It was in that one’s pocket,” she persisted, using much better English than her husband. “I was ’fraid pappooses grab it, and break. Maybe she take it,” she added, with a malicious look at poor Kittie.
“Silence!” said uncle Will sternly. “Answer my questions, and nothing more. When did you say you saw this chain?”
“When gal first come.”
“Not after they returned from the pond?”
“No. Forget all about it. Too much drown,” said the squaw grimly. “Didn’t see him no more.” And no other answer nor admission could be obtained.
Ruel, Randolph and the girls were now asked a few questions each, to bring out their story in the hearing of the Indians. The latter denied nothing, and admitted nothing.