Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/264

246 half-turning the man stared in round-eyed surprise at the figure, which appeared suddenly above the top of a bush almost at his side. "Drop that gun! Quick!"

The man's gaze focused upon the muzzle of Connie's carbine and his rifle dropped into the snow. "Now reach!" Up went the man's hands. "Walk straight ahead!" The man obeyed and came a few yards farther on to a small open space. "Lie down!" commanded the boy shortly. The man dropped to his hands and knees. "Flat! Flat on your belly! And keep on reaching!"

When the man was stretched helplessly before him, Connie approached and slipping his hand beneath the sealskin parka, withdrew a heavy cutlass, which he transferred to his own belt. After making sure that he carried no other weapon the boy backed off a few steps. "You can sit up now, " he said. The man obeyed clumsily, like a trained bear. He was a low-browed, repulsive creature, his face covered by an unkempt growth of hair, above which two eyes gleamed hatefully.

"Who be ye?" he growled. "An' w'at d'ye mean orderin' a cove around that way? It'd pay ye to be more civil-like meetin' up with me. I'm