Matthews evaded the question. "I seen one of the Clark outfit," he continued, "and tried t' git him t' bother old limpy. Says I, 'They's stealin' your slow-elk down there.' Wasn't any use. 'Thunderation!' says the cow-punch. 'You mean that bull? He was a yearlin' when he come to 'em. That's maverick age.'" Braden sneered. "Such a kid!" he murmured. "Why didn't you lay low, and not go butting down their door? Why didn't you lose the old man and snub up one of the girls--marry her? Big one's a rip-snortin' beauty; pert, by jingo! as a prairie-dog." "She'd send me a-flyin'," urged Matthews. "But th' little one----" "Sure! You're a good-looker--handsome. If you'd fix yourself up some." "If I could git rid of the old man! If I could! Aw! come t' think, what I got that lout of a brother for? _Easy_--with Indians to lay it on. Blaze the way for 'Babe'--he's a saphead--but he knows enough to follow a spotted line." "Go careful." "I'll try t' scare 'em off." "Huh! folks that ain't afraid to come this far in a schooner, Indians or no Indians, ain't likely to stampede at one white." "You don't know how I mean." "Go ahead. No use our brayin' like starved jackasses. _Do_ somethin'. You was a fool to ever let 'em winter." Matthews clenched his fists. "Well," he said, "they won't winter _again_!" CHAPTER XX A CHARGE David Bond was on his knees in the bed of his wagon, beneath the high board cross. Before him he held an open Bible. But he was not reading. His head was uncovered. His beard was lifted. His eyes closed in prayer. Beside him knelt Squaw Charley, with hands pressed together, as if reverent; with shoulders bent lower than their wont; with shifting, downward look. North of the barracks, on the road that led from the steamer-landing, the two had met in the early hours to say good-by. Swift on the first hint of coming trouble, the evangelist had made ready for his long journey to the west. Shadrach was shod, his master fitting the plates to the shaggy hoofs. The runners were taken from the green box and replaced by the red wheels. Canned food, salted meat, hardtack, and forage were boxed or sacked at the sutler's. The harness was greased. A new nail was driven home through the base of the sagging cross. During these preparations, the post joined in an effort to damp the aged preacher's hopes and to check his going. He was needed at Brannon, they said, so that the regiment could be rid of Matthews. His belief that he could talk peace terms to the hostiles was ludicrous. As for the Jamieson women, they were dead, or they would have been returned long since to save the four condemned from hanging. And his own life was to be uselessly endangered. Already, out upon the prairie, Indian scouts were keeping watch. He might be able, though alone and unarmed, to pass them and reach the coulees beyond. But he would only fall into the murderous clutches of the savages swarming there.