"He"ll kill me!" he yelled. "I can see it in his eyes. He"ll get me down among the trees an" shoot me! Don"t let him take me! Save me!
Fer G.o.d"s sake, save me!"
"You need not be afraid of Sconda," Glen replied, while her eyes flashed with contempt. "He is a true man, and respects me and my orders. He will not harm you, so you need not fear him. But there are others you might well fear should they Hear of what you have done to-day. That is all I have to say. Take him away, Sconda."
Glen went at once into the cabin, and the coolness of the place was a great relief to the intense heat outside. She watched from the window as Sconda conducted Curly down along the sh.o.r.e of the lake until they disappeared from view.
In about a quarter of an hour Sconda returned. Glen met him at the door, and enquired anxiously about her father and Reynolds. She spoke in the Indian language, and this always pleased Sconda. His face brightened, and as he looked at the animated face before him his lips parted in a smile.
"The white men are safe," he told her. "They will come into camp by and by."
"And where is Dan?" Glen enquired. "Did you see him?"
"Ah, ah. Dan tried to shoot the white men, but Sconda was too quick.
Dan now all same sleep."
"Not dead, is he?"
"No, no; all same sleep."
"Unconscious, eh?"
"Ah, ah."
"And so you came to tell me that daddy and Mr. Reynolds are safe?"
"Sconda ran away. Big White Chief wanted Sconda to help carry Dan into camp. But Sconda run away fast."
"Why?"
"Sconda think maybe Curly here. Sconda was right, eh?"
"Oh, I understand," Glen replied. Her eyes were shining with grat.i.tude as she turned them upon the face of her valiant protector. "You thought I might be in danger. You knew that Dan and Curly had plotted together, and that when Curly was not out there he must be here trying to harm me. How can I thank you, Sconda, for what you have done for me to-day? I do not know what would have happened had you not come just when you did."
"Missie Glen hold up Curly, all same man, eh?" and Sconda smiled.
"Indeed I did. But I could not have stood it much longer, I was afraid that I would have to shoot him."
"Why did Missie Glen not let Sconda shoot Curly?"
"Because it would be murder, that"s why. If you had shot Curly, the Mounted Police would take you away, and most likely hang you. Just think of that."
"But Curly bad, ugh!"
"I know that, Sconda. But it wouldn"t make any difference. You would be considered a murderer, and I don"t want to lose you yet. And, remember, Sconda, don"t you dare to tell anyone that Curly was here."
"Sconda no tell! Why?"
"Because if daddy hears of it, he will be so angry that he will kill Curly. You must not tell anyone, so daddy and Mr. Reynolds will know nothing about it. You will promise, won"t you, Sconda?"
With considerable reluctance Sconda agreed to keep the secret. He knew that it was not the wisest thing to do, for he was fully convinced that Curly should be punished. But he would do anything rather than displease his young mistress, for whom he had such an unbounded admiration.
"Missie Glen hungry, eh?" he unexpectedly asked.
"I really don"t know," Glen laughingly replied. "I have not had time to think about it. Are you?"
"Ah, ah; Sconda hungry."
"Well, then, you can get dinner ready, and perhaps I shall be able to eat something, too."
Sconda at once set to work, and in a remarkably short time he had a simple meal prepared. He served Glen first, and waited upon her until she had finished.
"How long will it take the men to come back?" Glen asked as she rose from the table.
"Till sundown, maybe," was the reply. "Dan is heavy and hard to carry."
"Well, then, I am going to lie down for a while, Sconda. I did not sleep any last night, and the excitement of to-day has made me very tired. You will keep watch around the cabin, will you not?"
"Ah, ah, Sconda will watch. Sconda will shoot Curly if he comes back."
"Oh, I guess Curly will not come here again, especially when he knows that I have such a n.o.ble protector."
Sconda was pleased at these words of praise, and after he had eaten his dinner he sat and smoked contentedly before the door of the cabin. He was happier than he had been in many a day. He had saved the white men, knocked out Dan, rescued his master"s daughter, and headed Curly for Big Draw. His only regret was that he had not been allowed to shoot Curly, and thus rid the earth of another villain.
Glen was completely wearied out, and a few minutes after her head touched the pillow she was fast asleep. She slept soundly for several hours, and when she awoke the shadows of night were stealing in through the little window. The sound of voices in the adjoining room informed her that her father and Reynolds had returned. She also heard the rattle of dishes and knew that Sconda was preparing supper. Hastily arranging her hair, and with a final glance in the small mirror, she softly opened the door. Weston and Reynolds were already seated at the table, while the lighted lamp told Glen that it was later than she had imagined.
"h.e.l.lo!" Weston accosted, as he turned and beheld his daughter. "You are a sound sleeper. Been sleeping all day, I suppose!"
Reynolds had risen to his feet the instant Glen appeared, and he waited until she had taken her place at the table ere he resumed his seat. He was pleased to see her looking so bright and animated. The color had returned to her cheeks, and the expression of fear had vanished from her eyes.
"Where is the wounded man, daddy?" Glen at once asked.
"In the bunk out there," and Weston motioned to the kitchen. "He doesn"t deserve all the trouble we"ve had to-day. My, he was a heavy load! And to think that Sconda should have run away and left us. I wonder what came over the rascal?"
"Is Dan seriously wounded, do you think?" Glen enquired, evading her father"s reference to Sconda.
"No, just a scratch, which made him unconscious for a time. He"ll be all right in a few days, I am sorry to say. Such a treacherous creature is better dead than alive."
"What will you do with him, daddy?"
"Keep him here for a while and patch him up. I must find out why he tried to shoot us, and if there are others in the plot, I know the villain is very revengeful, and that may have been his sole purpose for following us to-day. How did Sconda know about him, Glen?"
"He saw him hurrying along this side of the lake shortly after you had disappeared beyond the wild meadow. I thought it best for Sconda to go."
"And mighty fortunate you did. Why, the villain would have shot us all if Sconda hadn"t been on hand."
"Do you intend to stay here a while, daddy?"
"Long enough to look after my patient. But you must go home, and Natsu will go with you. Reynolds has to hurry down to Big Draw to record our claims."