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"Well," said Balwin, "I never saw anything look more like a buck Sioux. Look at his paint. Take the glasses yourself, Cutler." But Cutler refused. "He's like an Injun," he said. "But that's just what he wants to be." The scout's conviction bore down their doubt. They were persuaded. "You can't come with us, Cutler," said Powell. "You must wait for us here." "I know, sir; he'd spot us, sure.
Erected by Sir Balwin de Redvers in the old fighting days of the twelfth century, when men thought much of war and little of comfort, Castle Twynham had been designed as a stronghold pure and simple, unlike those later and more magnificent structures where warlike strength had been combined with the magnificence of a palace.
"Don't know as there's any trouble." "Come to your point, man; you're not a scout now." "Toussaint's here." "What! in camp?" "Hiding with the Sioux. Two Knives heard about it." "You've seen him?" "No. I want to quit my job and go after him." "Nonsense!" said Powell. "You can't, Cutler," said Balwin. "I can't spare you." "You'll be having to fill my place, then, I guess."
In ten minutes the wagon-master and the two lieutenants were rattling down to the agency in an ambulance, behind four tall blue government mules. These were handily driven by a seventeen-year-old boy whom Balwin had picked up, liking his sterling American ways. He had come West to be a cow-boy, but a chance of helping to impress Red Cloud had seemed still dearer to his heart.
They drew up at the agency store, and all went in, leaving the boy nearly out of his mind with curiosity, and pretending to be absorbed with the reins. Presently they came out, Balwin with field-glasses. "Now," said he, "where?" "You see the stockade, sir?" "Well?" said Powell, sticking his chin on Cutler's shoulder to look along his arm as he pouted. But the scout proposed to be deliberate.
"It's not our man," said Balwin. "Did you or I hit him?" "We're gone, anyhow," said Powell, quietly. "Look!" A dozen rifles were pointing at their heads on the bank above. The Indians still hesitated, for there was Two Knives telling them these officers were not enemies, and had hurt no Sioux.
Suddenly Cutler pushed among the rifles, dashing up the nearest two with his arm, and their explosion rang in the ears of the lieutenants. Powell stood grinning at the general complication of matters that had passed beyond his control, and Balwin made a grab as the head of the man in the river washed by. The false braid came off in his hand! "Quick!" shouted Cutler from the bank.
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