If
he lived, carrying the tale that he had to tell, a hundred
innocent ones might perish. Henry followed his comrades,
reloading his own rifle, also, but he stayed behind. The Indian
had a good lead, and he was gaining, as the others were compelled
to check speed somewhat as they put the powder and bullets in
their rifles. But Henry was near enough to Shif'less Sol and
Silent Tom to hear them exchange a few words.
"How far away is that savage?" asked Shif'less Sol.
"Hundred and eighty yards," said Tom Ross.
"Well, you take him in the head, and I'll take him in the body."
Henry saw the two rifle barrels go up and two flashes of flame
leap from the muzzles. The Indian fell forward and lay still.
They went up to him, and found that he was shot through the head
and also through the body.
"We may miss once, but we don't twice," said Tom Ross.
The human mind can be influenced so powerfully by events that the
three felt no compunction at all at the shooting of this fleeing
Indian. It was but a trifle compared with what they had seen the
day and night before.
"We'd better take the weapons an' ammunition o' both uv 'em,"
said Sol. "They may be needed, an' some o ' the women in that
crowd kin shoot.
Pages:
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234