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Updated: June 5, 2025
Sucatash looked curiously at De Launay, wondering how a man who was in Algeria came to know so much about these old survivals. "Leastways, I've heard tell they was both of them prospectin' the Esmeraldas a whole lot in them days and hangin' together. But Panamint struck this soft graft and wouldn't let Jim in on it, so they broke up the household.
"This lady don't seem to have no respect for snow and blizzards, none whatever," was the comment. "Which she hasn't, bein' troubled with notions about gold mines and such things. She needs taking care of." "Ridin' the Esmeraldas this time o' year and doin' chores for Pop all winter strikes me as bein' about a toss-up," said the man called Sucatash.
"That is good," she said. "And, if not for money, for a woman one of that kind of woman they would shoot a man?" Sucatash blanched. "What are you drivin' at, ma'am?" "They will kill for me, for money or if that is not enough for a woman; such a woman as I am. Will they not, Monsieur Sucatash?" "Kill who?" He knew the answer, though, before she spoke: "Louisiana!"
A few minutes later Solange had resumed her watch beside De Launay while, outside, Sucatash and Murphy were busy unloading the sled and getting it ready for the wounded man. De Launay slept, apparently. Solange sat patiently as the long hours passed. At intervals he muttered in his sleep and she listened. Fragments of his life formed the subject of the words, incoherent and disconnected.
"Monsieur Sucatash! You have said to me that you liked me. Maybe indeed, you have loved me a little! Well, if you will kill that man for me you may have me!" Sucatash groaned, staring at her as though fascinated. She threw back her head, turning to him, her face upraised. The sweetly curved lips were half parted, showing little white teeth. On the satin cheeks a spot of pink showed.
"Monsieur de Launay! What next? Well, show them up here." A few moments later Sucatash and Dave Mackay stalked on their high heels up the stairs and into the alcove of the mezzanine balcony, holding their broad hats in their hands. Sucatash gulped as mademoiselle's slender figure confronted him, and Dave's mouth fell open. Behind them lurched another man, slinking in the background.
Then his eyes fell on Sucatash, who followed her, and he half rose from his seat, fumbling for a gun. Sucatash paid no heed to him, not noticing his wild stare nor the slight slaver of saliva that sprang to his lips. His companions were busy showing the ore to curious spectators and were too drunk to heed him.
"An she expects me to tell her?" cried Banker, in a falsetto whine. "Yuh reckon if I knowed where it was I wouldn't have staked it long ago? I don't know nothin' about it." "Well, you know the Esmeraldas, old Stingin' Lizard," growled Sucatash. "You can tell her what to do about gettin' there." "I can't tell her nothin' no more than you can," said Banker.
A moment later as he entered to gather Solange's equipment, he saw the soldier seated at the rough table busy with paper and fountain pen. As Sucatash went past him, carrying an armload of blankets and a tarpaulin, De Launay held out a yellow paper. "She will want this," he said, and then bent over his writing. Again, when Sucatash came in for more stuff, De Launay stopped him.
More'n enough of it to give 'em a drink or two and water the Jennies acts on 'em all same like it does on a hydrophoby skunk. They foams at the mouth and goes mad." "With hydrophobia?" exclaimed the unsophisticated Solange. "Yes'm," said Sucatash. "Especially if it's deep enough to cover their feet.
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