Part 36 (2/2)
”Do you consider this fort your own?”
”The land is the red man's--the white o and leave the red o why don't you drive Gilroy and his gang away too?”
”They have promised to leave--after they have had their share of what is here”
”Oh, so that's the bargain!”
”You see how matters stand, Captain Moore,” broke in the leader of the desperadoes ”If you knohen you are well off, you'll subracefully as possible”
”If we leave will you pro captain to the Indian chief, ”you will notpeople?”
”Yes, all the woo,” said White Ox, but the look in his face was not one to be trusted
”And if we refuse when do you expect to attack us?”
”At once”
The reply came from Matt Gilroy, and White Ox nodded in the affirmative
”I must consult Colonel Fairfield first,” said the captain sloondering hoas to gain ht you were in coetting better Meet ive you his reply and my own”
This did not suit Gilroy and White Ox, but the captain was fir to be back exactly at the end of the hour
”And then it ht,” said the leader of the desperadoes sharply ”No ”
It must be confessed that Captain Moore returned to the fort in a thoughtful mood He had an awful responsibility upon his shoulders He called several of the other officers in consultation
”For ,” he said ”But we must consider those who are sick and must consider the woht to the end,” replied another officer ”She is not willing to trust White Ox or any of the other redskins”
”I don't believe in surrendering,” put in another ”Let us see if we can't hold off until we hear froed
CHAPTER XXIX
OPENING OF THE BATTLE
Proain, with the white flag of truce flying between them
This time Captain Moore took with him one of his lieutenants, Bacon by name