Part 28 (2/2)
He found him in a sitting posture, leaning against a blackjack, his rifle across his knees. Walker called softly and received no response.
He approached and laid his hand on his shoulder.
Instantly he leaped to his feet, his rifle at his follower's breast, his finger on the trigger.
”My G.o.d!” Walker yelled.
His speech was too late to stop the pressure of the finger. Walker pushed the muzzle up and the ball grazed his shoulder. The leader gripped his follower's arm, stared at him a moment and merely grunted:
”Oh!”
When the day dawned a new man was found to act as second in command.
Walker had deserted his queer chieftain.
The old man entered the camp at dawn, the light of determination in his eyes and a new set to his jaw. His first plan of the Pottawattomie was right. The turn toward Lawrence had been a waste of time. He selected six men to accompany him on his mission, his four sons who had made up the Surveyor's party, his son-in-law, Henry Thompson, and Theodore Weiner. Owen, Salmon, Oliver and Frederick Brown knew every foot of the ground. They had carried the chain, set the markers and flags and kept the records.
He called his men in line and issued his first command:
”To the house of James Townsley.”
Townsley belonged to the Pottawattomie Rifles of which organization his son, John Jr., was the Captain.
Arrived at the house, Brown drew Townsley aside and spoke in a vague, impersonal manner.
”I hear there is trouble expected on the Pottawattomie.”
”Is there?”
”We hear it.”
”What are you going to do?”
”March to their rescue. Will you help us?”
”How?”
”Harness your team of grays and take our party to Pottawattomie.”
”All right.”
The old man found a grindstone and ordered the ugly cutla.s.ses which he had brought from Ohio to be sharpened. He stood over the stone and watched it turned until each edge was as keen as a butcher's blade.
It began to dawn on the two younger sons before the grinding of the swords was finished what their father had determined.
Frederick asked Oliver tremblingly:
”What do you think of this thing?”
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