Part 45 (2/2)
”Heard about Frog Lake?”
”Frog Lake? No. That is up near Fort Pitt. What about it?”
For a moment there was silence, then a deep voice replied:
”A ghastly ma.s.sacre, women and children and priests.”
Then another period of silence.
”Indians?” murmured the Superintendent in a low voice.
”Yes, half-breeds and Indians,” replied the deep voice. And again there was silence. The men waited for Superintendent Strong to speak.
The Superintendent sat on his big horse looking at them quietly, then he said sharply:
”Men, there are some five or six thousand Indians in this district.”
They were all thinking the same thing. ”I have twenty-five men with me.
Superintendent Cotton at Macleod has less than a hundred.”
The men sat their horses in silence looking at him. One could hear their deep breathing and see the quiver of the horses under the gripping knees of their riders. Their minds were working swiftly. Ever since the news of the Frog Lake ma.s.sacre had spread like a fire across the country these men had been carrying in their minds--rather, in their hearts--pictures that started them up in their beds at night broad awake and all in a cold sweat.
The Superintendent lowered his voice. The men leaned forward to listen.
He had only a single word to say, a short sharp word it was--
”Who will join me?”
It was as if his question had released a spring drawn to its limit. From twenty different throats in twenty different tones, but with a single throbbing impulse, came the response, swift, full-throated, savage, ”Me!” ”I!” ”Here you are!” ”You bet!” ”Count me!” ”Rather!” and in three minutes Superintendent Strong had secured the nucleus of his famous scouts.
”To-morrow at nine at the Barracks!” said this grim and laconic Superintendent, and was about turning away when a man came out from the door of the Royal Hotel, drawn forth by that sudden savage yell.
”h.e.l.lo, Cameron!” said the Superintendent, as the man moved toward the sad-appearing broncho, ”I want you.”
”All right, sir. I am with you,” was the reply as Cameron swung on to his horse. ”Wake up, Ginger!” he said to his horse, touching him with his heel. Ginger woke up with an indignant snort and forthwith fell into line with the Superintendent's big brown horse.
The Superintendent was silent till the Barracks were gained, then, giving the horses into the care of an orderly, he led Cameron into the office and after they had settled themselves before the fire he began without preliminaries.
”Cameron, I am more anxious than I can say about the situation here in this part of the country. I have been away from the center of things for some months and I have lost touch. I want you to let me know just what is doing from our side.”
”I do not know much, sir,” replied Cameron. ”I, too, have just come in from a long parley with Crowfoot and his Chiefs.”
”Ah, by the way, how is the old boy?” inquired the Superintendent. ”Will he stick by us?”
”At present he is very loyal, sir,--too loyal almost,” said Cameron in a doubtful tone. ”Duck Lake sent some of his young men off their heads a bit, and Frog Lake even more. The Sarcees went wild over Frog Lake, you know.”
”Oh, I don't worry about the Sarcees so much. What of Crowfoot?”
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