Part 15 (2/2)

”They think yer people captured us?”

”Maybe yes,” said White Eagle. ”Maybe no.”

Laramie waited. He was sure White Eagle had more to report.

”They know Indian not let horse go,” said White Eagle simply.

Laramie thought on that and then nodded. It was true. The Indians would not have released the horses.

”So they know it's a false trail,” he admitted aloud.

”They waita”just outside villagea”in draw.”

”Are they still there?” asked Laramie.

”Had to tell Father to stop young braves,” went on White Eagle. ”They want to raid. Like horses. They wait now.”

Laramie nodded.

There was silence as the young men pondered their situation.

White Eagle spoke. ”You want braves attack?” he asked simply.

Laramie shook his head. He could not utter the order that would surely send the gang members to their deatha”including his own father. Nor did he wish to cause danger to the Indian bravesa”though he imagined the chief was having difficulty holding his men in check. They would have welcomed an opportunity to attack the little camp of desperadoes and plunder their supplies and their horses.

”No. No, don't attack. We'll wait.”

But at the same time he still hated the thought of waiting.

”One thing more,” said White Eagle thoughtfully.

Laramie turned to him.

”One sentry. One. He sits by big rock on hill.”

Laramie waited.

”Leaning Tree, brave man. He like big red horse.”

Laramie still waited patiently.

At last White Eagle continued. ”Leaning Tree will silence sentry. Me take horses.”

Laramie's eyes grew serious. ”Kill the sentry?” he asked. He wanted no part of killing if there was another way out.

”Maybe yes. Maybe no,” said White Eagle.

”Tell him no,” said Laramie. ”Take his guns. Leave him tied if you have to.”

White Eagle looked dubious but nodded. ”Leaning Tree not like thisa.” He shrugged his shoulders when Laramie did not change his mind.

White Eagle spoke again. ”Leaning Tree get big red horse. Youa”buckskin. Mea”rest.”

Laramie nodded. It would make White Eagle a very wealthy young brave. He would be able to pick from all the maidens of the village.

”Wait,” said Laramie, raising his hand to show that the deal had not been completed.

White Eagle watched his face closely.

”I get back the buckskina”and the roan,” said Laramie, remembering the excitement when he first had put his saddle on the Indian pony White Eagle had provided. ”You git yer mustangs back.”

White Eagle looked amused. Then nodded in agreement. ”Come,” he said simply. ”I take you to girl.”

”Now?” Laramie was both surprised and excited.

”Now. You must be ready to ride tomorrow when horses come.”

Laramie nodded. It sounded reasonable. After all, the whole gang that sought his hiding place would then be on foot.

Ariana paced the small hideout. She told herself she had to keep limbera”but in truth she knew she was just restless.

She had been in this hole in the rocks for such a long time. She didn't know how much longer she could endure it. Even the reciting of scriptures failed to quiet her troubled spirit.

She walked back and fortha”back and forth.

Now and then her eyes traveled to her little stack of supplies. She had already eaten all the biscuits and the dried fruit. Only pemmican remained. Ariana was not sure just how long she could stretch it out. She was drinking more and more water in order to keep her stomach from gnawing with hunger.

Her pile of candles was being quickly used up too. Ariana would not let herself think about being left in the dark. She simply would not be able to endure it. She would bolt for sure. But did she know her way out? The young Indian had turned this way and that, selecting one tunnel over anothera”and he had a lantern. She would get lost in the labyrinth for sure without any light. She might wander forever and never find her way to daylight. The mere idea was more than she could bear.

”Sleep,” she told herself. ”Sleep. Time will pa.s.s more quickly. Surely he will come soon. Surelya”

She checked the candle to make sure it had plenty of burning time left and eased onto the bed of fur. She tucked the blanket firmly about her and closed her eyes. The constant dripping of water distracted her, but she fought against it. She found a hymn whose beat kept time with the dripping and sang it over in her mind. Over and overa”until it was almost hypnotic. Finally she drifted off into a troubled sleep.

Ariana awoke, fighting for full consciousness. Something was wrong. She knew ita”but in her state of drowsiness she was unable to reason it through.

She listened, straining to hear in the darkness. Nothing. Nothing but the soft drip of the seeping water.

Then if a noise had not disturbed hera”what had?

She groped to pull the blanket more closely about her chin. Something was wrong. She could feel it.

And then the truth hit her full force. There was no light! Her candle was no longer burning. What had happened? What had put out the flicker of light?

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