CAMP-FIRE TALES 215 



" I can't begin to tell you what a feeling that sight 

 sent through me. It was like a current of electricity; 

 and I felt it clean down to the ends of my toes. Like a 

 flash, I knew that that Indian was a murderer, that he 

 had killed some settler's wife, — and probably the whole 

 family, — stolen their horses, and was being followed by 

 somebody. Even an Indian won't run a good pair of 

 horses to death for just nothing. 



" Without stopping for an instant to think what I 

 was doing, I grabbed my rifle, cocked it, and brought it 

 to bear on that Indian. 



"'Lay down, or I'll shoot you!' I fairly yelled 

 at him. 



" I'll never forget the look he gave me, it was such 

 a horrible mixture of ferocity and fear. He didn't obey 

 the order at once, but glancing over his shoulder he said, 

 * You know me? ' 



" I said, ' No I don't and I don't want to, either.' 



" ' Me Tom Savage.' 



" * Well,' I said, ' I don't give a cuss how savage you 

 are. If you don't do as I say, I'll fill your hide so full 

 of holes it won't hold baled hay; and you'd better not 

 argue the point.' 



" Seeing that I had my gun levelled square at his 

 heart, he dropped to the ground. 



" ' Now,' I said, ' turn your back to me, and if you 

 attempt to get up, or turn over, or look at me to-night, 

 I'll kill you right where you lay.' 



" After the first shock of my surprise and horror had 

 worn off, I did some very hard thinking. I was reason- 



