Page:Hugh Pendexter--Kings of the Missouri.djvu/184

 without challenging death, but Baker smiled grimly and said he would guarantee a full supply of water.

"What we want to do first is to make a fire an' cook up all the meat we can. Some of it we'll jerk. Meat cured in th' sun will keep a good spell."

As he finished speaking he grabbed Lander, who was bending over the cow, and violently hurled him backward. As he did so a dozen war arrows stuck into the carcass. "Th' derned cusses have come!" grunted Baker, dropping behind a boulder and nursing his rifle.