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Sconda is going," was the reply. Then an anxious expression appeared in the old woman's eyes as she turned them upon her fair visitor. "Don't you go," she warned. "Stay home." "Why, Klota?" Glen asked as calmly as possible, although her fast-beating heart told of her agitation. "Something might happen out there," and the Indian woman motioned to her left. "What has Klota seen?
But as he is not here I must take matters into my own hands. You know Deep Gulch beyond the Golden Crest?" and she motioned to the left. Again the Indian nodded. "Well, then, there is a dead bear in the Gulch, Sconda, and I want you to take men and bring it in, see?" A new light now shone in the native's eyes, and he looked enquiringly into the girl's face. "Bear?" he asked. "In Deep Gulch?"
Sconda had ridden on ahead, and had an appetizing supper ready by the time the others arrived. "I wonder where daddy can be," Glen remarked as they sat down to the table. "I was hoping that he might be here to receive us." "Oh, he's all right, an' will be back soon," Samson replied. "He'll be here this evenin' fer sure."
Sconda did not come home for supper, but about an hour later he appeared with two other Indians, and informed Reynolds that the Big White Chief wished to see him. Reynolds now knew that the critical moment had arrived, so without the least hesitation he accompanied his guards, who conducted him at once to the big house on the hill. Jim Weston was seated at his desk as the prisoner was ushered in.
"It seems to me that there is something in Indian presentiment, after all," he confessed. "How did you know that Dan was going to shoot me?" he asked Sconda. The latter, however, made no reply. He merely shook his head and glanced furtively and anxiously around. This Weston noticed, and it aroused his curiosity. "What's the matter, Sconda? You seem to be nervous. Do you expect more shooting?"
There, that's better," she added, as she placed the garment over the girl's shoulders. "I am afraid that your father will blame me for letting you go." Glen smiled at the woman's fears as she again kissed her, and picking up her riding-gloves, she hurried out of the house and down to the village. Here she found the twenty men awaiting her arrival, and Sconda holding Midnight.
"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.
Have you been deceiving me, girl?" "Indeed I have not," was the emphatic and somewhat angry denial. "I am surprised that you think I would deceive you, daddy. Sconda refers to someone else. It is Curly who came by the pass, and not Mr. Reynolds." "Curly! Curly here, did you say?" Weston almost shouted the words, and so fierce did he look that the Indian retreated a step.
For over an hour she remained on the water, and when she returned, Sconda was waiting for her on the shore. Her face brightened as she saw him, and she at once questioned him about her rescuer. "Did you see him?" she asked. "Ah, ah. Sconda see white man." "And did he see you?" "Ah, ah." "Oh! Did he stay long at Deep Gulch?" A shake of the head was the native's only response.
But the enraged Indian was not easily diverted from his purpose, and it was only with much difficulty that Glen was able to make him listen to reason. "Curly bad," he argued. "Curly all same black bear. Ugh!" "I know that, Sconda," Glen agreed. "But I want you to mind me now, and let him go. Search him, and take his gun."
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