Part 24 (1/2)
For a few seconds the savage chief gazed steadily at Betty, then turning towards the botanist he took a step towards the spot where he sat and looked keenly into his face.
The botanist returned the gaze with equal steadiness through his blue spectacles.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
”The big man with the blue gla.s.s eyes is a villain,” said the Indian chief, after a long scrutiny of the botanist's countenance.
”So some of my mistaken friends have thought,” returned the man, speaking for the first time in his natural voice, which caused a thrill to pa.s.s through Paul Bevan's frame.
”He is a thief,” continued the chief, still gazing steadily at the blue gla.s.ses, ”and a murderer!”
”He's all that, and liar and deceiver into the bargain,” thought Tolly Trevor, but Tolly did not speak; he only vented his feelings in a low chuckle, for he saw, or thought he saw, that the robber's career was about to receive a check. As the thought pa.s.sed through his brain, however, he observed from the position in which he stood that Stalker-- for, as the reader has doubtless perceived, it was he--was working his hands about in a very soft slow, mysterious, and scarcely observable manner.
”Oho!” thought Tolly, ”is that your little game? Ha! I'll spoil it for you!”
He quietly took up a piece of firewood and began, as it were, to amuse himself therewith.
”You has many faces, many colours,” continued Unaco, ”and too many eyes.”
At the last word he plucked the blue gla.s.ses off the botanist's nose and flung them into the fire.
”My enemy!” gasped Paul Bevan, turning first very pale and then very red, as he glared like a chained tiger at his foe.
”You knows him _now_?” said Unaco, turning abruptly to Paul.
”Yes; _I_ knows him!”
”The white man with the forked tongue say jus' now he _not_ knows him.”
”Ay, Redskin, an' I said the truth, for he's a rare deceiver--always has been--an' can pa.s.s himself off for a'most anything. I knows him as my mortal foe. Cast my hands loose an' give me a knife an' you shall see.”
”O father! your promise--remember!” exclaimed Betty.
”True, dear la.s.s, true; I forgot,” returned Paul, with a humbled look; ”yet it _is_ hard for a man to see him there, grinning like a big baboon, an' keep his hands off him.”
During this dialogue the Indians looked from one speaker to another with keen interest, although none but their chief understood a word of what was said; and Stalker took advantage of their attention being turned for the moment from himself to carry out what Tolly had styled his ”little game,” all unaware that the boy was watching him like a lynx.
Among other s.h.i.+fts and devices with which the robber chief had become familiar, he had learned the conjuror's method of so arranging his limbs while being bound, that he could untie his bonds in a marvellous manner.
On the present occasion, however, he had been tied by men who were expert in the use of deerskin thongs, and he found some difficulty in loosening them without attracting attention, but he succeeded at last.
He had been secured only by the wrists and forearms, and remained sitting still a few seconds after he was absolutely free; then, seizing what he believed to be his opportunity, he leapt up, dashed the Indian nearest him to the earth, and sprang like a deer towards the bushes.
But Tolly Trevor was ready for him. That daring youth plunged right in front of the big botanist and stooped. Stalker tripped over him and came violently to the ground on his forehead and nose. Before he could rise Tolly had jumped up, and swinging his billet of wood once in the air, brought it down with all his little might on the robber's crown.
It sufficed to stupefy him, and when he recovered he found himself in the close embrace of three muscular Redskins.
”Well done, Tolly Trevor!” shouted Paul Bevan, enthusiastically.
Even Tom Brixton, who had been looking on in a state of inexpressible surprise, managed to utter a feeble cheer.