Part 40 (2/2)
”I'll teach them to insult me like that,” he fumed, shaking his fist toward the opening. ”I'll look out anyway.”
He did so, prudently drawing the flap close whenever he heard anyone approaching. Once as he peered out, a disreputable looking cur snapped at his legs. First, the lad coaxed the animal, then tried to drive him away, finally administering a kick that sent the dog away howling.
”I've got revenge on one of the gang anyway,” he laughed. ”But it's not much of a revenge, at that. I wonder if they are going to bring me anything to eat. I----”
The flap was suddenly jerked aside and the face of the chief appeared in the opening.
”How,” greeted Chief w.i.l.l.y.
”How,” answered Tad rather sullenly. ”What do you want?”
”Paleface want eat?”
”You ought not to have to ask that question. So you can talk English just a little bit? Chief, when are you going to let me go away from here? It will only get you into trouble if you try to keep me. They are sure to find me.”
”No find,” grunted the chief.
”Oh, yes they will.”
”Ugh,” answered the redskin, hastily withdrawing. Then followed another long period when Tad was left alone with his thoughts.
”I wonder two things,” thought the lad aloud. ”I wonder what he brought me here for and I wonder when I am going to get something to eat? Captured by the Indians, eh? That's more than the rest of the Pony Riders can say.”
Yet there was a more serious side to it all. They had taken him prisoner for some purpose, but what that purpose was he could not imagine.
His thoughts were interrupted by some one silently entering the tent. Glancing up, Tad saw a slender, rather pretty Indian girl standing there looking down at him.
The boy scrambled to his feet and took off his sombrero.
”How,” he said.
The girl answered in kind. Then she placed on the ground before him a bowl of soup and a plate of steaming stew. Tad sniffed the odor of mutton, which now was so familiar to him, wondering at the same time, if it had come from Mr. Simms's flock.
”Thank you,” he said. ”If you will excuse me I will eat. I'm awfully hungry.”
She nodded and Tad went at the meal almost ravenously. The Indian girl squatted down on the ground and watched him.
”What's your name?” he asked between mouthfuls.
”Jinny.”
”That's a funny name. Doesn't sound like an Indian name. Is it?”
”Me not know. Young buck heap big eat,” she added.
”Yes. Oh, yes, I have something of an appet.i.te,” laughed Tad.
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