Suddenly the tiger in wait crouched nearer to the earth, and then, with a roar not unlike that of the jungle-king, he sprung at his prey.
The twain went over together, the weight of the smuggler bearing his young victim to the ground.
They reeled down the hill together, over and over like amateur wrestlers, but the strength of Tanglefoot was bound to win.
The boy tried in vain to slip from the smuggler's embrace, but it was like the hug of the she bear, and the fumes of bad liquor almost overpowered him. As Gid went back the revolver was torn from his hand, nor could it be regained. Tanglefoot used no weapon, and when they reached the foot of the hill, Gid found himself lifted in mid-air, and held out at arm's length by the panting ogre.
For several moments Tanglefoot said nothing, but continued to gaze at his prize.
“Caught!” he cried. “Nobody whoever done Timon Moss a wrong ever got away in the end. It war fun to bust the whisky-kegs, but the laugh will be on the other side of the face afore the game is played cl'ar out. Say, whar's that j'inted individual who did most of the breaking, my delicate child?”
“Alone? I heerd a great deal o' shootin' while I war coming hyar. Who did it.”
Gopher Gid peered eagerly into Tanglefoot's face to note the effect of his reply.
The whisky-smuggler started a little—that was all.
Gopher Gid's answer seemed to nonplus the avenger of the spilled spirits; he was at his finger's-end for another question.
All at once he broke forth with one that shot a malicious twinkle into his little eyes.
“Say, Gopher, did you ever see a sun-dance?”
The boy stared a moment, then said, “No.”
“They're goin' to hev a big one up at Red Cloud's town,” said old Tanglefoot. “Sixty hosses for the Injun what kin hang the longest. The red boys ar' comin' from the lodges of the Teton Sioux, an' thar'll be more Injuns thar then you kin count. Well, I'm goin' to the Injun show, an' I ain't goin' alone, either.”
Timon Moss now proceeded to secure his captive, which no longer fought the tide which had set in against him.
“You will do me one favour?” said the boy.
“In course I will,” was the answer. “What is it?”
“Shut my door, and fix it as I tell you.”
“What! you don't expect to come back, I hope?” was the quick retort. “But I'll fix the shanty, fur thar may be some things thar that I'll want when I come back.”