บท 16: Chapter 16

“You seen anybody else around?”

“Just the major.”

“No other red bellies?”

“None around, I don’t guess.”

“Wrong. They’s a teepee pitched no more’n a mile north of here.”

“Haven’t been north of that hill over there.” I might as well play their game. “They tame Indians?” I couldn’t bring myself to say “Injuns.”

“Who knows? We on our way to check them out. You see any strangers around, you come to Yanube City and report it to the magistrate. Hostiles ambushed some of our men. Killed and scalped one of them, and we aim to catch them and string them up. You hear me?”

“I hear you.”

Without another word, the man spurred his horse, brushing me aside. I recovered my balance and watched them ride over the hill. Scalped? When I dumped the jasper in the river his crown was firmly attached to his head.