"They"re around among friends."
"Where are their children?"
"Left over there with the old women. Couldn"t be fetched over. But there are some pretty young babies in that bunch--need their mothers."
"I should--think so," replied Shefford, constrainedly. "When will their mothers get back to them?"
"To-night, maybe, if this mob of cow-punchers and wranglers get out of town.... It"s a bad mix, Shefford, here"s a hunch on that. These fellows will get full of whisky. And trouble might come if they--approach the women."
"You mean they might get drunk enough to take the oaths of those poor women--take the meaning literally--pretend to believe the women what they swore they were?"
"Reckon you"ve got the hunch," replied Joe, gloomily.
"My G.o.d! man, that would be horrible!" exclaimed Shefford.
"Horrible or not, it"s liable to happen. The women can be kept here yet awhile. Reckon there won"t be any trouble here. It"ll be over there in the valley. Shefford, getting the women over there safe is a job that"s been put to me. I"ve got a bunch of fellows already. Can I count on you?
I"m glad to say you"re well thought of. Bishop Kane liked you, and what he says goes."
"Yes, Joe, you can count on me," replied Shefford.
They finished their meal then and repaired to the big office-room of the house. Several groups of men were there and loud talk was going on outside. Shefford saw Withers talking to Bishop Kane and two other Mormons, both strangers to Shefford. The trader appeared to be speaking with unwonted force, emphasizing his words with energetic movements of his hands.
"Reckon something"s up," whispered Joe, hoa.r.s.ely. "It"s been in the air all day."
Withers must have been watching for Shefford.
"Here"s Shefford now," he said to the trio of Mormons, as Joe and Shefford reached the group. "I want you to hear him speak for himself."
"What"s the matter?" asked Shefford.
"Give me a hunch and I"ll put in my say-so," said Joe Lake.
"Shefford, it"s the matter of a good name more than a job," replied the trader. "A little while back I told the bishop I meant to put you on the pack job over to the valley--same as when you first came to me. Well, the bishop was pleased and said he might put something in your way.
Just now I ran in here to find you--not wanted. When I kicked I got the straight hunch. Willetts has said things about you. One of them--the one that sticks in my craw--was that you"d do anything, even pretend to be inclined toward Mormonism, just to be among those Mormon women over there. Willetts is your enemy. And he"s worse than I thought. Now I want you to tell Bishop Kane why this missionary is bitter toward you."
"Gentlemen, I knocked him down," replied Shefford, simply.
"What for?" inquired the bishop, in surprise and curiosity.
Shefford related the incident which had occurred at Red Lake and that now seemed again to come forward fatefully.
"You insinuate he had evil intent toward the Indian girl?" queried Kane.
"I insinuate nothing. I merely state what led to my acting as I did."
"Principles of religion, sir?"
"No. A man"s principles."
Withers interposed in his blunt way, "Bishop, did you ever see Glen Naspa?"
"No."
"She"s the prettiest Navajo in the country. Willetts was after her, that"s all."
"My dear man, I can"t believe that of a Christian missionary. We"ve known Willetts for years. He"s a man of influence. He has money back of him. He"s doing a good work. You hint of a love relation."
"No, I don"t hint," replied Withers, impatiently. "I know. It"s not the first time I"ve known a missionary to do this sort of thing. Nor is it the first time for Willetts. Bishop Kane, I live among the Indians. I see a lot I never speak of. My work is to trade with the Indians, that"s all. But I"ll not have Willetts or any other d.a.m.ned hypocrite run down my friend here. John Shefford is the finest young man that ever came to me in the desert. And he"s got to be put right before you all or I"ll not set foot in Stonebridge again.... Willetts was after Glen Naspa.
Shefford punched him. And later threw him out of the old Indian"s hogan up on the mountain. That explains Willetts"s enmity. He was after the girl."
"What"s more, gentlemen, he GOT her," added Shefford. "Glen Naspa has not been home for six months. I saw her at Blue Canon.... I would like to face this Willetts before you all."
"Easy enough," replied Withers, with a grim chuckle. "He"s just outside."
The trader went out; Joe Lake followed at his heels and the three Mormons were next; Shefford brought up the rear and lingered in the door while his eye swept the crowd of men and Indians. His feeling was in direct contrast to his movements. He felt the throbbing of fierce anger.
But it seemed a face came between him and his pa.s.sion--a sweet and tragic face that would have had power to check him in a vastly more critical moment than this. And in an instant he had himself in hand, and, strangely, suddenly felt the strength that had come to him.
Willetts stood in earnest colloquy with a short, squat Indian--the half-breed Shadd. They leaned against a hitching-rail. Other Indians were there, and outlaws. It was a mixed group, rough and hard-looking.
"Hey, Willetts!" called the trader, and his loud, ringing voice, not pleasant, stilled the movement and sound.
When Willetts turned, Shefford was half-way across the wide walk. The missionary not only saw him, but also Nas Ta Bega, who was striding forward. Joe Lake was ahead of the trader, the Mormons followed with decision, and they all confronted Willetts. He turned pale. Shadd had cautiously moved along the rail, nearer to his gang, and then they, with the others of the curious crowd, drew closer.
"Willetts, here"s Shefford. Now say it to his face!" declared the trader. He was angry and evidently wanted the fact known, as well as the situation.
Willetts had paled, but he showed boldness. For an instant Shefford studied the smooth face, with its sloping lines, the dark, wine-colored eyes.
"Willetts, I understand you"ve maligned me to Bishop Kane and others,"
began Shefford, curtly.
"I called you an atheist," returned the missionary, harshly.
"Yes, and more than that. And I told these men WHY you vented your spite on me."
Willetts uttered a half-laugh, an uneasy, contemptuous expression of scorn and repudiation.
"The charges of such a man as you are can"t hurt me," he said.
The man did not show fear so much as disgust at the meeting. He seemed to be absorbed in thought, yet no serious consideration of the situation made itself manifest. Shefford felt puzzled. Perhaps there was no fire to strike from this man. The desert had certainly not made him flint. He had not toiled or suffered or fought.
"But _I_ can hurt you," thundered Shefford, with startling suddenness.
"Here! Look at this Indian! Do you know him? Glen Naspa"s brother. Look at him. Let us see you face him while I accuse you.... You made love to Glen Naspa--took her from her home!"
"Harping infidel!" replied Willetts, hoa.r.s.ely. "So that"s your game.
Well, Glen Naspa came to my school of her own accord and she will say so."
"Why will she? Because you blinded the simple Indian girl.... Willetts, I"ll waste little more time on you."
And swift and light as a panther Shefford leaped upon the man and, fastening powerful hands round the thick neck, bore him to his knees and bent back his head over the rail. There was a convulsive struggle, a hard flinging of arms, a straining wrestle, and then Willetts was in a dreadful position. Shefford held him in iron grasp.