He's at de Rio Grande, and den 'fore you can
calc'late he's at de Colorado."
"He appears to be a great favorite."
"He's done got de hearts ob ebery one in his right hand; and de dogs!
dey whimper after him for a week; and de little children! he draw dem
to him from dar mammy's breast. Nobody's never seed sich a man!"
He was talking to John when Elizabeth went on the gallery, and Harry
was standing between his knees, and Dick Millard leaning on his
shoulder. Half a dozen of the more favored dogs were lying around him,
and at least a dozen negro children were crawling up the piazza steps,
or peeping through the railings. He was dressed in buckskin and blue
flannel, and at first sight had a most unclerical look. But the moment
he lifted, his face Elizabeth saw what a clear, noble soul looked out
from the small twinkling orbs beneath his large brows. And as he grew
excited in the evening's conversation, his muscles nerved, his body
straightened, and he became the wiry, knotted embodiment of calm power
and determination.
"We expected you two weeks ago," said John to him.
"There was work laid out for me I hadn't calculated on, John. Bowie's
men were hard up for fresh meat, and I lent them my rifle a few days.
Then the Indians bothered me. They were hanging around Saledo
settlement in a way I didn't like, so I watched them until I was about
sure of their next dirty trick.
Pages:
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291