Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/74

56 moment Connie could scarcely restrain the impulse to dash into the circle and free his bound comrade. But the boy bided his time, and with clenched fists awaited the next move. The medicine man was haranguing the Indians in their own language, not a word of which the boy could understand, yet he knew from the gestures that the words boded no good for the future of Corporal Rickey. Eagerly Connie scanned the faces of the squatting Indians and, with a thrill of hope, read disapproval upon the faces of many of the older men. The medicine man had evidently reached the climax of his argument, for he ceased speaking and, stooping swiftly, caught a blazing brand from the fire. Slowly—very slowly he advanced to the bound feet of the captive. Then, for the first time, Connie saw that the feet were bare—saw, also, that which caused the hot blood to rush to his head in a red surge of rage—the medicine man in the act of applying the flaming brand to the naked soles of Corporal Rickey's feet.

With no thought for consequences, the boy threw caution to the wind, sprang into the firelight, and with one kick hurled the blazing torch