Page:B M Bower - Heritage of the Sioux.djvu/323

"WAGALEXA CONKA—COLA!" whom she hated because he hated her. And in their midst stood Bill Holmes and Luis, and the setting sun shone on something bright—like great silver rings—that clasped their wrists.

Coming up the hill toward her was Wagalexa Conka, climbing swiftly, looking up as he came. Annie-Many-Ponies sprang to her feet, startling the little black dog that gave a yelp of astonishment. Came he in peace? She hesitated, watching him unwinkingly. Something swelled in her chest until she could hardly breathe, and then fluttered there like a prisoned bird. "Cola!" she gasped, just under her breath, and raised her hand in the outward, sweeping gesture that spoke peace.

"You theenk to fix trap, you—!"

She whirled and faced Ramon, whose eyes blazed hate and murder and whose tongue spoke the foulness of his soul. He flung out his arm fiercely and thrust her aside. "Me, I kill that dam—"

He did not say any more, and the six-shooter he had levelled at Luck dropped from his nerveless hand. Like a coiled adder, Annie-Many-Ponies had struck. Like an avenging spirit she pulled the knife free and held it high over her head, 311