Part 42 (2/2)
”Yes, yes, I know. Then where?”
”Find white man. He tell um. Jinny not know.”
She pressed something into his hand.
”What's this?” asked Tad sharply.
”Knife. Mebbyso brave catch um paleface buck.”
Tad caught the significance of her words instantly.
”No, Jinny, thank you very much. I couldn't do that. You keep the knife. I shall not need it, but you shall have the beads just the same.”
”Ugh! Go pony. Go quick. Braves him follow.” She pointed back toward the camp, and, grasping Tad by the arm, hurried him toward the ponies.
”When?”
”Come now,” she insisted.
Tad felt a sudden thrill as he heard a great commotion back in the camp.
”We've got to hurry, Phil. I guess they have discovered our escape. You run, Jinny. Run back. Don't you let them know you helped us. Say, what will the chief do if he finds it out?” demanded the boy, pausing sharply.
”Huh. Jinny no afraid chief. Jinny laugh in chief face. Bye.”
She disappeared with surprising suddenness.
”Quick, Phil! Get on your pony and follow me. Keep close to me.”
”I am on,” answered the boy bravely. ”It's my pony, too.”
”And so is this one mine. It's Pink-eye.”
”What's that noise!” asked Phil in a tremulous voice.
”Hi-yi-yip-yah--yah-hi-yah!” rang out the Indian war cry, as the braves threw themselves on the bare backs of their ponies and tore from the village, going in all directions.
Tad drove the spurs in viciously.
”Quick! Quick, Phil! They're after us.”
”I'm coming.”
Both ponies sprang away in the darkness, the lads clinging to the saddles, none too sure of the path that lay before them, and riding desperately.
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