Part 31 (1/2)
And in reality the hts were as busy as never before
He opened his eyes, struggling for vision But he could not make out the forms of the men at all, except when they crossed in front of the candles The candles themselves were mere points of yelloeen his lids One of the candles was sitting just beside him, on a shelf; the other was on the table He tried to locate the position of all four of his fellow-occupants of the cabin,--Virginia at one end of the table, Joe at the other, Pete opposite hi in thein his drunkenness
But the first exhilaration of the drink was dying now, giving way to a erous mood Even Harold was less talkative: the tones of his voice had harshened The two Indians, when they spoke at all, were surly and threatening
The moments passed For a breath the cabin was still Only too well Bill knew that le word ht invoke murderous passions that would turn the cabin into sha the first quart and beginning upon the second
”You're a pretty little witch,” Harold addressed Virginia ”You're hard to kiss, but your kisses are worth having What you think about that, Joe? Aren't I tellin' you the truth?”
Joe! Bill's first in, but he shi+fted in his chair For all the ease and almost inertness hich he sat, his ive theht to the death Virginia heard the name too, and her fears increased
”Joe?” she repeated ”You know him, then?”
”Of course I know Joe He's an old friend He's one that Bill told never to show his face in this part of Clearwater again--but you don't see anything happening to hi Bill wouldfor the ht be avoided There was tiht had returned him to answer such speeches as this
”You see he hasn't anything to say,” Harold gloated ”I asked you a question, Joe--about Virginia Didn't I tell the truth?”
The girl flinched, then caught herself with a half-sob She resolved to make one more appeal ”Oh Harold--please--please be careful what you say,” she pleaded ”You're drunk now--but don't forget you were a gentleman--once Don't drink any more Don't let these Indians drink any entleman once, eh? So you don't think I'm one any more But Bill, there--he's one, ain't he? It see kind of bossy around here, lately--and the women of we northern men don't behave that way”
”I'm not your woman, thank God--and I ask you to be careful”
”And I repeat that warning” Bill spoke gravely, quietly fro like a rotter, Harold, and you know it Shut up the bottle and try to hold yourself--and then re Ree an insult now, the tiot one weapon _now_ that I won't hesitate to use I o If you want to keep her love, be careful”
The Indians turned to hi their faces
Pete's hand began to steal toward his hip He had no ancestral precedent for the use of a miner's pick for such work as faced hiard for the thin, cruel blade
”Do you think I care?” Harold answered ”Tell her if you want to--all about Sindy and everything else Do you think I'm ashamed of it? I've heard all I want to from you too--and I'll say and drink what I please”
Bill had no answer at first He had thought that this threatHarold to tiinia's love as much as he, in a siirl ”So you're _not_ irl's eyes were blazing, and she had forgotten her fear in her nificent wrath ”I suppose--you were a squaw man These Indians are your own friends”
Harold smiled cruelly ”Yes, a squaw man And these are my friends
Don't you suppose I've known--for the last week--you were just foolingBill? Sindy at least was faithful--and her for Joe, was so gaze had leaped over the girl's for eyes suddenly blazed red There was no other word than red
They were like two coals of fire
There ensued asilence Pete chuckled, already receptive to Joe's thought Harold turned to stare at him
Joe put his pipe to his lips, then fuive e, thick and strained, yet Virginia's heart thrilled with hope The request was a welco the fighting stage Perhaps if these men started to smoke, their blood would cool; she had known of old that tobacco was a wonderful bromide to overstretched nerves He turned quickly to the shelf above Bill's head and procured half a dozen matches froh again,--one evil syllable that filled her with instinctive horror Her wide eyes turned to hiive Joe the matches