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Updated: June 11, 2025
Ambrose counted twenty-one men besides Watusk and himself. It was close quarters. When it became light enough to see clearly, they lined up in front of him, eagerly looking over. One was lighting a little fire and putting grass on it to make a smudge. Ambrose got his feet under him, and managed after several attempts to stand upright. He was tall enough to look over the heads of the Indians.
The police had taken down their white flag. He could see the inspector glance at his watch from time to time. Wondering messengers came from the other pits presumably to find out the reason of the inaction, to whom Watusk returned evasive replies. Bound and gagged as he was, it was anything but an easy time for Ambrose.
"She believed that her father's ability to speak English had threatened Watusk's power in the tribe, and that Watusk, on that account, had had her father put out of the way. Therefore she kept it a secret that she could speak it, too. "Nesis said that all of Mr. Strange's and Watusk's talk was against the white people.
Watusk exclaimed in satisfaction, and ordered the fire put out. This, then, was the explanation of the digging rifle-pits! Ambrose marveled at the cunning with which it had all been contrived. The excavated earth had been carried somewhere to the rear.
"While there he lived in a little log shack overlooking the Indian village. Nesis said it was Watusk's custom to go up to the shack every night and the two men would talk. She knew that they talked English together, and she used to steal up after Watusk and listen outside through a chink between the logs." Every eye in the court-room was turned on Gordon Strange.
He had the poor satisfaction of seeing that Watusk was more uneasy than himself. To a discerning eye the Indian leader was suffering visible torments. Egerton, the wily old Indian fighter, knew his man. If he had made the slightest move to provoke a conflict, raged, threatened, fired a gun, the savage nature would instantly have reacted, and it would have all been over in a few moments.
Upon Inspector Egerton's return from the Kakisa village a meal was served. Afterward the inspector sat at his folding-table inside his tent and held his investigations. There was a deal of business to be transacted. In due course Ambrose was brought before him. Watusk, whose services were in continual demand as interpreter, was present, and several troopers.
It seemed like the very sport of fate that he should be placed in the power of such a poor creature as this. "How!" said Watusk, offering his hand with an affable smile. Ambrose, remembering the look of his face when it rose over the bank, was sharply taken aback. He lacked a clue to the course of reasoning pursued by Watusk's mongrel mind.
Surely the redcoats would never allow themselves to be surprised! Anyhow, if he was to be present, it would be strange if he could not help his own in some way. His horse was led up the hill, off at right angles to the village. Watusk remained near him. As they rose to higher ground the moon came into view, hanging above the tree-tops across the valley, preparatory to sinking out of sight.
Ambrose felt for the little fingers that crept through the slit, and gratefully pressed his lips to them. "Ah!" she breathed wonderingly. "Was that your mouth? It mak' me jomp! Put your hand outside, Angleysman." He did so, and felt his fingers brushed as with rose-petals. "Goo'-by!" she breathed. "Nesis," he asked, "do you know why Watusk is keeping me locked up here?
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