The Fur Bringers Part 45

None of the others recognized what was pa.s.sing in those glances.

Macfarlane took a step forward. "Here! Leave Miss Gaviller out of this!" he said harshly.

Ambrose did not look at him, but his hand clenched ready to strike.

His eyes were fixed on Colina, demanding an answer.

Color came back to her cheeks and firmness to her voice. "Stop!" she cried to Macfarlane in her old imperious way. "I'm the mistress here.

My father is incapable of giving orders. You've no right to judge this man. None of us can choose. There is no evidence. I will not have either one handcuffed!"

Macfarlane fell back disconcerted. "I was thinking of your father's safety," he muttered.

"I will watch over him myself," she said. She went swiftly up the stairs.

Ambrose sat by himself on a chair at the junction of the side pa.s.sage with the stair hall. Naturally, after what had pa.s.sed, he avoided the other men--and they him.

It was growing light. He saw the panes of the side door gray and whiten. Later he could make out the damaged front of the store across the square.

Macfarlane was again upon watch by the door. Strange and Pringle were in the library. Giddings was with Colina and the sick man up-stairs.

Ambrose watched the coming of day with grim eyes. He had had plenty of time to consider his situation. True, Colina had not failed him, but he did not minimize the dangers ahead.

He knew something of the uncertainty of men's justice. Out of the tumult of rage that had at first shattered him had been born a resolve to guard himself warily.

Daylight had an odd effect of novelty. It seemed to him as if years separated him from the previous day.

Strange came out of the library to take an observation. At the sight of him Ambrose's eyes burned. If scorn could kill the half-breed would have fallen in his tracks.

"They're still quiet," remarked Macfarlane.

"Too quiet," said Strange. "If they made a noise we could guess what they were up to!"

The two men held a low-voiced colloquy by the door. Ambrose supposed that Strange was again offering to go out to reconnoiter. The policeman was expostulating with him.

He heard Strange say; "I'm afraid they may attempt to wreck the mill before they go. That would be fatal for all of us. I had no opportunity yesterday to put on new locks."

Macfarlane begged Strange not to risk himself.

"He's safe enough," thought Ambrose grimly.

Strange finally had his way.

Ambrose speculated on what his real object might be. "That bull-headed redcoat is likely to get a surprise!" he thought.

In less than ten minutes the half-breed returned. Macfarlane warmly grasped his hand.

"It's all right," said Strange. "I went straight up to them. I had no trouble. Even now the older heads are thinking of the consequences. I think they'll be gone directly."

After some further talk in low tones Strange went back into the library, and Macfarlane sat down with his gun across his knees.

Once more quiet ruled the house. Ambrose's head fell forward on his breast and he slept uneasily.

He was roused by the cry they had waited all night in dread of hearing: "They're coming!"

Strange and Pringle ran out into the hall. Low as the cry was it was heard above. Colina and Giddings came flying down-stairs. Ambrose had already joined the others.

In the face of the deadly danger that threatened the men forgot their animosity for the moment. They were all crowded together in the narrow pa.s.sage, far enough back from the closed door to see through the panes without being seen.

The five whites were afraid, as they might well be--but without panic.

The half-breed was suspiciously calm. They lacked an unquestioned leader.

"That is Myengeen leading them," said Strange; "a bad Indian!"

"Macfarlane--tell us what to do," said Giddings.

"They're quiet now," said Colina. "I shall speak to them!"

Macfarlane put out a restraining hand. "Leave this to me!" he said quickly.

"We're in each other's way here," cried Ambrose. "Let us spread through some of the rooms."

"Right!" said Macfarlane. "Doane, Giddings, and Miss Colina--go into the library and throw up the windows on this side. Shoot between the boards if I give the word. The guns are inside the door."

A cry from Strange brought them out into the hall again. "They've raised a white flag! They want to parley not to fight."

The others murmured their relief.

"Open the door!" cried Strange. "I will speak to them."

Ambrose fell back a little. The other men crowded around Strange, urging him to be careful of himself. Strange was doing the modest hero!

It was a pretty little play. At the sight of it a harsh jangle of laughter rang inside Ambrose. Colina took no part in the scene.

Strange stepped out on the porch. Ambrose heard him speaking the uncouth Kakisa tongue, and heard the murmur of replies. He would have given a bale of furs to understand what was being said.

The exchange was brief. Strange presently stepped inside and said:

"They say they want their leader--Ambrose Doane."

A dead silence fell on the little group. They turned and stared at Ambrose. He, for the moment, was stunned with astonishment. He was aware only of Colina's stricken, white face. She looked as if she had been shot.

"They say they are ready to go," Strange went on. "They promise to make no more trouble if we give Doane up. If we refuse, they say they will take him, anyway."

"It's an infernal lie!" cried Ambrose desperately. "I am no leader of theirs!"

She did not believe him. Her eyes lost all their l.u.s.ter and her lovely face looked ashen. She seemed about to fall.

Giddings went to her aid, but she pushed him away. She seemed unconscious of the presence of the ethers. Her accusing eyes were fixed on Ambrose.