Part 23 (1/2)

”He didn't seem much impressed by my line of talk,” confessed Baldy. ”He said this ceremony was one of the most important the tribe ever held, and that it would certainly spoil it to have us go away now. He doesn't want us here, and he says we mustn't be present at the time the magic medicine is made; but, at the same time, he doesn't want us to go.”

”That's strange,” observed Alice.

”Well, you can't tell much about Indians,” Baldy went on. ”They are mostly queer critters, anyhow. Now, the question is: Do you want me to go out there, and shoot 'em up, and----”

”No, never!” cried Ruth. ”You--you might be hurt.”

”Well, yes, there's a possibility of that,” returned Baldy, calmly. ”But I reckon I could hurt a few of them at the same time. But it's bound to muss things up any way you look at it. Though I might be able to clear out enough of 'em so the others wouldn't bother you. I'm a pretty good shot.”

”No, we must not think of that,” declared Mr. DeVere, positively. ”That is too much of a risk for you, my dear sir. We will try some other line of argument. If we make it plain that they will be punished for detaining us perhaps they will think better of it.”

”Well, I'll give them another line of strong talk, and see what comes of it,” agreed Baldy. ”I'll point out the error of their ways to them.”

”Tell them we can't--we simply can't--stay all night,” said Ruth, nervously pulling at her gauntlets. ”Why, where could we sleep, and what could we eat?”

”We brought along some sandwiches,” Alice reminded her.

”Yes, my dear, I know. But hardly enough, and as for sleeping with those--those Indians about---- Oh, I couldn't shut my eyes all night.

Please, Baldy, tell them we _must_ be let go.”

”I'll do my best,” he responded. ”But old Jumping Horse--that's the chief--said we could have some huts off by ourselves, and they'll feed us--such fodder as they've got.”

”It is an unfortunate situation,” said Mr. DeVere, ”but it cannot be helped. We must make the best of it, and, after all, I suppose there is really no great danger.”

”None at all, I guess, if we do as they say,” agreed Baldy. ”But I don't fancy being kept here a week.”

”Do their ceremonies last as long as that?” asked Russ.

”Often longer. Well, I'll go see what I can do, and then I'll come back and report. Here, you keep one of those,” and he handed a big revolver to Paul.

”Don't you dare hold that close to me!” cried Ruth, apprehensively.

The result of Baldy's talk with Jumping Horse was not encouraging, as the cowboy reported later.

”You can't argue with an Indian,” he said, gloomily. ”He can only see his side of the game.”

”Then he refuses to let us go?” asked Mr. DeVere.

”That's about it,” was the moody answer. ”He says we won't be bothered; that we can have some huts to ourselves, away from the others, and that we can have the best food they've got. Fortunately they came prepared for a feast and as they've got mostly store victuals it may not be so bad.”

”Then you advise submitting quietly?” asked Mr. DeVere.

”For a time, anyhow,” replied Baldy. ”But I haven't played all my hand yet. I'm going to try and get away, or else bring a rescue party from the ranch.”

”How can you do that?” asked Russ.

”Well, I've got to plan it out. Now, of course I'm willin', as it was my fault for bringin' you here--I'm willin' to go out and try to break through their line of guards, if you say so.”

”Oh, no!” cried Alice. ”Besides, it was as much our doing in coming here as it was yours.”