Part 44 (2/2)
On reaching the skirt of the clearing, the Apaches, following their usual tactics, sheltered themselves behind trees, so that this confined clearing, in which so many men were on the point of beginning an obstinate struggle, seemed absolutely deserted.
There was a moment of silence and hesitation. The Scalper at length decided on being the first to speak.
”Halloh!” he cried, ”What do you want here?”
Blue-fox was going to answer, but John Davis prevented him.
”Leave him to me,” he said.
Quitting the trunk of the tree behind which he was sheltered, he then boldly walked a few paces forward, and stopped almost in the centre of the clearing.
”Where are you, you who are speaking?” he asked in a loud and firm voice; ”Are you afraid of letting yourself be seen?”
”I fear nothing,” the squatter replied.
”Show yourself, then, that I may know you again,” John said impudently.
Thus challenged, the Scalper came up within two paces of the hunter.
”Here I am,” he said, ”What do you want of me?”
Davis let the horse come up without making any movement to avoid it.
”Ah,” he said, ”I am not sorry to have had a look at you.”
”Is that all you have to say to me?” the other asked gruffly.
”Hang it, you are in a tremendous hurry! Give me time to breathe, at any rate.”
”A truce to jests, which may cost you dearly; tell me at once what your proposals are--I have no time to lose in idle talk.”
”How the deuce do you know that I have proposals to make to you?”
”Would you have come here without?”
”And I presume that you are acquainted with these proposals?”
”It is possible.”
”In that case, what answer do you give me?”
”None.”
”What, none!”
”I prefer attacking you.”
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