Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 11, 2025
Regaining his feet as quickly as possible, with a terrible oath, Pritchen rushed for his antagonist, only to go down again before that clinched sledge-hammer fist. This time he did not attempt to rise, but lay on the floor, giving vent to the most blood-curdling oaths. Keith towered above him, awaiting his further movement. "Lie there, then, you serpent!" he cried, spurning him with his foot.
One was Amos, the catechist, who was accompanied by three stalwart hunters. In the exciting affray between Pete and Pritchen the Indians for a time had been forgotten. But the presence of these natives recalled their uncertain position, and with one accord they turned their attention to the visitors.
There was nothing else to be done, and sulkily Pritchen stepped forward and faced the Indian girl. "Thar, that's better. Now go ahead," continued Pete, turning to Jennie. The latter, however, did not speak, but stood staring at Pritchen, as a bird fascinated by a serpent. "De' ye know that man?" demanded the prospector, seeing her embarrassment. "Yes. Me know 'um," came the low reply.
This she took, and soon drew near the mission house. By this trail she approached the building on the left side, through a small clump of trees. She was in the act of stepping into full view, when the sight of a man approaching the cabin arrested her steps, and caused her to shrink back a few paces. Not long was she left in doubt, for her keen eyes detected the slinking form of Pritchen.
"All together, pull!" was the shout, and with a terrible, gurgling cry, Pritchen swung from the ground into the air. And even as the men pulled, dead set upon their fearful deed, there was sweeping down upon their own heads the mighty flood of ice and water. The jam had given way and, sweeping down, was bearing all before it.
Through the storm he heard mocking voices, jeering and laughing at his futile efforts to advance. He saw Pritchen in the form of a huge serpent, leering forth at him from the darkness, while Perdue, Tim Murphy, and others he could not distinguish, were grinning in the background. A horrible feeling of helplessness possessed him, and the more he struggled the weaker he became.
Suddenly he paused, his fingers relaxed, and with the words, "The Lord judge thee, thou wretched man," he flung Pritchen from him as if he were a viper, then turned and left the building. Among the Indians in Perdue's store none watched the proceedings more intently than Yukon Jennie, the orphan, whose home was in every camp, but with no certain abiding place.
But there was nothing for him to fear, as the youth, Joe Simkins, one of his own gang, had pulled his gun first. It was only an act of self-defence, and this the miners well knew. It was a certain relief to Keith to see Pritchen standing there, and to know that Jennie had not carried out her design. But he had little time to think about it now.
He determined, therefore, to use Pritchen as an instrument to further his evil designs upon the natives. "So you think you can stop that bell from ringing, do you?" he asked. "Well, then, I'll bet a drink all around that you can't do it." "I'll do it for one night," answered Pritchen guardedly. "Oh, ye might fix the bell so it wouldn't ring fer one night, that'd be no trouble.
"At present the matter lies atween you an' the lassie, so I leave the b'ys here to jedge which to believe. But as we are now acquainted, I'd like to ax ye another question." "Spit it out, then." "Haven't I seed ye afore, Bill Pritchen?" "H if I know." "But ye do know. Ye know very well that I met ye on the trail in 'Dead Man's Land, last Fall." "You must have been dreaming then."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking