Page:Edward Ellis--Alden the Pony Express Rider.djvu/72

 hain’t any idee that we do, but,” chuckled the guide, “they don’t know old Shagbark has charge of these folks.”

The old man seemed vastly pleased, and his massive shoulders bobbed up and down for a minute, while he puffed hard at his pipe.

“Do you think they intend to bother us?” asked Alden.

“No; I don’t think; I know it; we ain’t through with ’em; if they don’t pay us a visit to-night, we shall hear of ’em to-morrer night as sure as a gun.”

“Why don’t they make an open attack, as I have been told the Indians often do?”

“A red varmint never takes chances when he has a show of getting what he wants without it; there ain’t ’nough of ’em to ride up and open fire; don’t ye see that if they hold off till darkness, believing as how we haven’t an idee they’re within a thousand miles, and we ain’t keeping a lookout, they believe they can play thunder with us?”

There was no questioning the truth of this theory. Alden slipped the cord which held the glasses over his head and handed them to the guide.

“Try them; good as are your eyes, these will