Dick
ordered Crusoe to follow and help the men, and turned to spring on the
back of Charlie; but at that moment he observed an Indian's head and
shoulders rise above the grass, not fifty yards in advance from him,
so without hesitation he darted forward, intending to pounce upon him.
Well would it have been for Dick Varley had he at that time possessed
a little more experience of the wiles and stratagems of the Banattees.
The Snake nation is subdivided into several tribes, of which those
inhabiting the Rocky Mountains, called the Banattees, are the most
perfidious. Indeed, they are confessedly the banditti of the hills,
and respect neither friend nor foe, but rob all who come in their way.
Dick reached the spot where the Indian had disappeared in less than a
minute, but no savage was to be seen. Thinking he had crept ahead, he
ran on a few yards farther, and darted about hither and thither,
while his eye glanced from side to side. Suddenly a shout in the camp
attracted his attention, and looking back he beheld the savage on
Charlie's back turning to fly.
Pages:
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348