Read Online Scarlet Plume, Second Edition by Frederick Manfred - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Frederick Manfred
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very bad. You must fly.”
Reverend Codman drew back his hand. “What has happened? Why do certain of the red men show their anger? What have we done?”
Pounce shut off the ceremonial weeping with a single blink of his reddish-black eyes. “A runner has come to us. The bad Indians are killing at the Lower Agency. On the river the white man calls the Minnesota. The soldiers fly. All the whites are killed. Also the women and children.”
A gasp rose from the settlers.
Crydenwise said, “That means we’re cut off.”
Vikes said, “Unless we can escape the other way.”
“What other way?” Crydenwise asked.
“Why, toward Sioux Falls. We can take the mail carrier’s route that way.”
Reverend Codman asked Pounce, “What is the reason for smoke signals from our Christian brother’s camp?”
Pounce scratched himself through his black trousers. His dark eyes roved through the crowd. His glance lingered on the women, in particular on Theodosia and Judith. “The white man must fly.”
Theodosia stepped beside her husband. She gave Pounce a bright Christian smile. “I see that our brother in Christ has come to lead us to safety.”
Pounce’s large sensual lips worked. “The young braves are hungry for the blood. The spirits of some of the dead fathers will not let the young braves sleep at night because enemy blood has not been found and spilled. It is very bad. The white man must fly. Or he will die like the rabbit when the wolf is hungry.”
War drums continued to beat loud and clear. More smoke signals rose on all sides. Village dogs barked and howled. A fan-shaped flock of startled carrier pigeons flew past overhead and vanished into the oaks.
“Are you not the chief?” Reverend Codman asked. “Are you a woman that your young braves will not listen to your counsel?”
“Young braves make the war, old chiefs make the peace.”
Reverend Codman managed to shape his thin lips into a kindly smile. “Has not the track of the moccasin and the footprint of the white man’s boot lain side by side in peace these many years? Why must we shed each other’s blood? Let the war trail grass over.”
Pounce’s eye fell on Theodosia again. “Tell the Good Book Woman she must fly. I have said.”
“Our friend Jesus will not like this.”
Pounce seemed to consider this. At last he too shaped his lips into a good smile. He went around shaking the hands of all the men. Next he patted the little children on the head.
“God bless,” Reverend Codman murmured. Reverend Codman’s fists were white over the knuckles.
Pounce also held out his hand to Theodosia and Judith.
Theodosia accepted his hand. Judith refused him.
Pounce threw Judith a darting, venomous look.
Judith glared right back at him.
Pounce next spotted Reverend Codman’s white knuckles. He grunted, once, twice, then abruptly turned and started back for his village.
“Brother Pounce?” Theodosia called.
Pounce ignored her call and disappeared over the rise.
The faces of the whites, momentarily brightened, now turned darker than ever.
“That backslider,” Judith whispered.
Silvers’ bearded face worked with strangling emotion. “Damned summertime Christian.”
Tallak looked down at Silvers from his great height. “That’s what we get for lettin’ you cheatin’ trader fellers into our little town. Giving them poor red devils squirrel whiskey until they’re so drunk you can steal their money and their land for nothin’.”
Silvers gave Tallak a slow measuring look, then fell grudgingly silent.
Reverend Codman shook his head. “I fear that we may have to reap the whirlwind after all. Yes. Some of us have stolen from the red man.”
Silvers sneered. “Reverend, beggin’ your pardon, but you’re a liar when you say the trader’s cheated the red devil.” Silvers shook his heavy fist in Reverend Codman’s face. “Why, them red niggers desarve no better. They’re hardly better than animals, in a manner of
Reverend Codman drew back his hand. “What has happened? Why do certain of the red men show their anger? What have we done?”
Pounce shut off the ceremonial weeping with a single blink of his reddish-black eyes. “A runner has come to us. The bad Indians are killing at the Lower Agency. On the river the white man calls the Minnesota. The soldiers fly. All the whites are killed. Also the women and children.”
A gasp rose from the settlers.
Crydenwise said, “That means we’re cut off.”
Vikes said, “Unless we can escape the other way.”
“What other way?” Crydenwise asked.
“Why, toward Sioux Falls. We can take the mail carrier’s route that way.”
Reverend Codman asked Pounce, “What is the reason for smoke signals from our Christian brother’s camp?”
Pounce scratched himself through his black trousers. His dark eyes roved through the crowd. His glance lingered on the women, in particular on Theodosia and Judith. “The white man must fly.”
Theodosia stepped beside her husband. She gave Pounce a bright Christian smile. “I see that our brother in Christ has come to lead us to safety.”
Pounce’s large sensual lips worked. “The young braves are hungry for the blood. The spirits of some of the dead fathers will not let the young braves sleep at night because enemy blood has not been found and spilled. It is very bad. The white man must fly. Or he will die like the rabbit when the wolf is hungry.”
War drums continued to beat loud and clear. More smoke signals rose on all sides. Village dogs barked and howled. A fan-shaped flock of startled carrier pigeons flew past overhead and vanished into the oaks.
“Are you not the chief?” Reverend Codman asked. “Are you a woman that your young braves will not listen to your counsel?”
“Young braves make the war, old chiefs make the peace.”
Reverend Codman managed to shape his thin lips into a kindly smile. “Has not the track of the moccasin and the footprint of the white man’s boot lain side by side in peace these many years? Why must we shed each other’s blood? Let the war trail grass over.”
Pounce’s eye fell on Theodosia again. “Tell the Good Book Woman she must fly. I have said.”
“Our friend Jesus will not like this.”
Pounce seemed to consider this. At last he too shaped his lips into a good smile. He went around shaking the hands of all the men. Next he patted the little children on the head.
“God bless,” Reverend Codman murmured. Reverend Codman’s fists were white over the knuckles.
Pounce also held out his hand to Theodosia and Judith.
Theodosia accepted his hand. Judith refused him.
Pounce threw Judith a darting, venomous look.
Judith glared right back at him.
Pounce next spotted Reverend Codman’s white knuckles. He grunted, once, twice, then abruptly turned and started back for his village.
“Brother Pounce?” Theodosia called.
Pounce ignored her call and disappeared over the rise.
The faces of the whites, momentarily brightened, now turned darker than ever.
“That backslider,” Judith whispered.
Silvers’ bearded face worked with strangling emotion. “Damned summertime Christian.”
Tallak looked down at Silvers from his great height. “That’s what we get for lettin’ you cheatin’ trader fellers into our little town. Giving them poor red devils squirrel whiskey until they’re so drunk you can steal their money and their land for nothin’.”
Silvers gave Tallak a slow measuring look, then fell grudgingly silent.
Reverend Codman shook his head. “I fear that we may have to reap the whirlwind after all. Yes. Some of us have stolen from the red man.”
Silvers sneered. “Reverend, beggin’ your pardon, but you’re a liar when you say the trader’s cheated the red devil.” Silvers shook his heavy fist in Reverend Codman’s face. “Why, them red niggers desarve no better. They’re hardly better than animals, in a manner of
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