The Scalp Hunters by David Thompson Read Free Book Online Page A

it?”
    The drumming hooves slowed as they neared the cottonwoods. Plenty Elk girded himself and dived at Rubicon’s legs, but the black man was too quick for him and leaped out of reach.
    Snarling, Rubicon raised his rifle to hit Plenty Elk again.
    That was when the brush crackled and out of the trees came the last person Plenty Elk expected: the young white woman.

Chapter Six
    Evelyn King drew rein when the arrow thudded into the earth, and she watched the two warriors gallop off. She still didn’t know which tribe they belonged to. They weren’t Blackfeet or Sioux, or they would have tried harder to kill her or take her captive.
    Degamawaku’s heart had leaped into his throat when he saw the glittering shaft arc out of the sky. For a few harrowing moments he thought it would bury itself in Evelyn. His relief when it missed was so profound that he trembled from head to toe. Drawing rein, he forced his throat to work. “Be careful, please. You almost be killed.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” Evelyn said. “I don’t think he was trying to kill me, just scare me.”
    â€œHe scare me.”
    The others came trotting up, Wakumassee and Tihikanima and Tenikawaku and Mikikawaku.
    â€œWhy did you chase them?” Waku demanded. He liked the white girl, liked her a lot, but at times she did rash things.
    â€œI wanted to talk to them,” Evelyn explained. “I still do. Didn’t you see that one of them was hurt?”
    â€œThey not want your help.” Waku considered the arrow the warrior let fly a distinct hint.
    â€œThey were afraid of us.”
    â€œ They afraid of us ?” Waku repeated in some amazement.
    Evelyn rose in the stirrups and surveyed the vast extent of plain to the north. “The important thing is who hurt that warrior? They must have run into enemies. If there’s a war party somewhere close, we need to know.”
    Waku hadn’t thought of that. “If there is war party near, we must go far away.”
    â€œWhat if they’re between us and the mountains?” Evelyn shook her head. “They could be anywhere. We need to find out who and how many and where those two warriors last saw them.” She gigged the mare.
    Dega was aghast. She had just escaped being shot with an arrow and here she was going after the men who shot at her. He glanced at his father in mute appeal and saw that he was just as dumbfounded.
    Tihi didn’t like this one bit. “What is that foolish girl doing?”
    â€œShe thinks we need to talk to the two warriors,” Waku said. “She says there could be enemies close by.”
    â€œThen we should return to the mountains. Out here on the prairie it is too open. We are too exposed.”
    â€œI agree with Mother,” Tenikawaku said. She never wanted to come hunt buffalo in the first place. She was perfectly content to stay in King Valley where they were safe.
    Little Minikawaku said nothing. She did not understand any of this, but she trusted her parents to do what was best.
    â€œStop her, Waku,” Tihi said. “Call to her.”
    â€œShe would not listen. She is headstrong, that one.”
    Tihi smothered a tart reply. At moments like these she wished her husband was a bit more forceful, even if it wasn’t the Nansusequa way. The People of the Forest believed in living in harmony with everyone where possible. They exalted reason over confrontation, peace over violence. Unfortunately, as they had learned to their bitter sorrow, not everyone shared their ideals.
    â€œWe must go after her,” Waku said. “Her father and mother have been exceptionally kind to us.”
    â€œShe is a child in a woman’s body,” Tihi said in uncharacteristic anger. “I am grateful for what her parents have done for us, but they have not raised her right.”
    â€œThey are not Nansusequa.”
    Dega was impatient to catch up to Evelyn. A dutiful son would wait