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These hunters had made their way to the main camps. His long-reaching arm
seemed grotesque while hisbody moved guardedly. Now Indians always fightharder
under such conditions. Different men addressed the council, and none were more
impressivethan Pilchuck. Shore theyre liable to cross the river an stampede
themain herd.
The slope grew less steep and more thickly strewn with large
rocks.
There followed a bad mess, in which theTexan killed Hurd and crippled
one of his friends. But I smelled smoke an soon found wheretents, wagons, an
hides had been burnin.
Wal, if they do well be in a hell of a pickle, replied
thescout. Weve got to KILL the Comanches, anlick the Kiowas, Cheyennes, an
Arapahoes. Shore theyre liable to cross the river an stampede themain herd.
Groves of cottonwood trees filled the level benches. Jude, theyre too smart to
charge us, said a grizzled old hunter.
Some one was close behind Tom, crawling
laboriously, pantingheavily.
Hurd had been imbibing red liquor and Harkawayhad
no intention of avoiding trouble. TheComanches left in camp, a considerable
number, redoubled theirshots. Groves of cottonwood trees filled the level
benches. Reckon this is pretty good, said Pilchuck, with satisfaction.
Columns
of blue smoke arose lazily on the still air. Groves of cottonwood trees filled
the level benches. Their guns were drowned in thedreadful war-cry of the
Comanches.
Then bullets hissedlow down, just over the rocks. Worse, however,
grew out of that incident, though it did not affectTom Doan in any way.
They
concentrated on dimmer trails overharder ground to follow. Ill swear thet bunch
is aimin to make a break to git by anabove us.
They had their own camps and
buffalohides to consider. Shore the rest aint easy to figure, went
onPilchuck.
The water was deep therean had a current, too.
There followed a bad
mess, in which theTexan killed Hurd and crippled one of his friends.
They
hadbeen gone for days, no doubt having gotten wind of the campaignagainst them.
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